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With the re-emerging popularity of Cuban music in mainstream
America, Edmonton-based Bomba! is bound to have an enormous
hit on their hands with Entre Sol Y Luz. For this, the Latin
trio’s third release, Bomba! has invited Cuban music
giants Neraldo Duran Torriente (violin), Raul Gomez Tabera
(drums, timbales) and Livan Morejon Quian (saxophone, flute)
to join forces with them. Guest artists also include Canadian
Sandro Dominelli (drumset) and Peruvian vocalist Luisito Orbegoso.
Bomba! is a highly accomplished group that features Canadian
born pianist/keyboardist Chris Andrew, Brazilian born bassist
Rubim de Toledo, and Chilean born conga/percussion player
Mario Allende. These musicians eloquently fuse their respective
roots to explore new and uncharted territory, and have quickly
developed a large and ever-increasing fan base. Based on their
previous recording successes, Bomba was invited to perform
for Havana Jazz Festival in 2004, and it was during that time
they were introduced to the Cuban musicians featured on this
exciting new release.
Entre Sol Y Luz is a delicious concoction of the traditional
and contemporary, and showcases the compositional talents
of pianist Andrew, with nine of the ten tracks penned by him.
Four cuts feature the combined arranging efforts of Andrew,
Berriel and Torriente, and are a blend of Cuban, African,
jazz and funk music, the result evoking the streets of Old
Havana with an inventive, modern soundscape.
I was instantly seduced by the passionate performances of
the musicians, all of whom contribute superb ensemble and
solo works, it’s a challenge to choose standout performances
with each and every track having something to rave about.
With the arrangements written to highlight the instrumentation,
state the styles, and underscore the mood, there’s a
broad spectrum covered, from the primitive to the regal, urban
to bucolic, and the expression of each is divine.
From the first cut to the last, there isn’t a millisecond
where one isn’t astounded by the exceptional ability
of each player to crossover genres with ease, and the coalescence
of musical flavours. This recording is sure to be wildly successful
throughout the Americas, and likely to take Bomba! beyond
the western hemisphere to the heights of global success. |
