The “must listen” pile has been growing steadily, so I again offer up a few quick first- or second-impression reviews to reduce its height. The four featured albums include two jazz releases that follow the familiar format of improvising on a written composition and two that offer intuitively improvised compositions. All four albums have much to offer.
Eight years after the Tierra Amarilla native Lara Manzanares released her award-winning album Land Baby, this weekend she’s launching an engaging and accomplished new album of original tunes, Yo Soy de Ti, with concerts in both Santa Fe and Corrales, presented by AMP Concerts. It’s definitely been worth the wait.
Musically Speaking recently crossed paths with Albuquerque native Camilo Quiñones, aka CQ the Drummer, a producer, percussionist, drummer, DJ, and member of the Quiñones family of highly regarded percussionists, including his father, Tony; his uncle, Rafael; and his brother, Marc. He recently worked his studio and percussive magic on a version of the tropical anthem “El Tiki-Ta” from Acapulco’s famed band Fiesta 85. “TikiTa” releases November 11 on the usual streaming services.
Two of the most accomplished and exciting ensembles in contemporary jazz expand the repertoire in two completely different ways.
One of the most engaging and creative projects to have found its way to my ears, Measured Not Found, from the visual/musical collective Biota, invites listeners to travel across time and space on a trip of their imagination’s making.
