Provinciano

Album review

Good jazz is always a melting pot, able to incorporate influences from various styles of music around the world. This session by electric bassist Fernando Huergo is described by the leader/composer as "Jazz Argentino," as it incorporates rhythmic ideas from several South American countries, while Huergo utilizes an international cast, including saxophonist Andrew Rathbun, pianist Mika Pohjola, flautist Yulia Musayelyan, and drummer Franco Pinna. "Provinciano" proves to be an infectious opener, with a unison piano/bass vamp over a complex Latin rhythm, as the tenor and flute play in octave unison. The lovely ballad "La Luz del Norte" showcases Musayelyan over Pohjola's delicate piano. Latin meets soul in the lively "Chacarera Boogaloo," written in tribute to Lee Morgan and Herbie Hancock. "The Cost of War" is a haunting melody, carried by Rathbun's emotional, yet understated tenor. Huergo's powerful arrangement of John Coltrane's "Lonnie's Lament" opens with his soft solo, with Rathbun making a delayed entrance on tenor; the remarkable restraint in the performance of this jazz standard makes it one of the most compelling recordings available. Huergo closes the recording with a beautiful, unaccompanied interpretation of the tango "El Día Que Me Quieras." Highly recommended!
© Ken Dryden /TiVo