Blanco Y Negro: Timbero

Latin jazz
premiera polska: 2018-01-12,
Wydawnicto Audiofilskie
kontynent: Ameryka Łacińska
kraj: cuba
opakowanie: digipackowe etui
opis:
multikulti.com - ocena * * * * 1/2:
Blanco y Negro, kubańsko-skandynawski kolektyw nie zwalnia tempa. Minęło jedenaście lat od powołania do życia zespołu, skład nieznacznie uległ zmianie, jednak fundament w osobach perkusjonisty Eliela Lazo (Herbie Hancock, Savage Rose, Wayne Shorter), basisty Yassera Morejona i drummera Jonasa Johansena (Mike Stern, Steve Swallow, Eliane Elias) pozostał. Na najnowszej płycie zespołu usłyszymy jeszcze kubańskiego pianistę Abla Marcela, wybornego improwizatora, członka grup Davida Murray'a i szwedzkiego saksofonistę Karla-Martina Almqvista, znanego chociażby z nagrań Danish Radio Big Band.

Szeroki wachlarz muzycznych zainteresowań każdego z członków zespołu sprawia, że obok fantastycznej tradycji kubańskiej, reprezentowanej tu przez trójkę instrumentalistów, z charakterystyczną spontaniczną energią, żywiołową radością niuansowane są tutaj przez słynącą z artystycznej dyscypliny skandynawskiej praktyki Jonasa Johansena i Karla-Martina Almqvista.

Ta międzynarodowa formacja stworzyła wspaniały, zintegrowany klimat, oscylujący między wątkami lirycznymi, a ognistym, pełnym ekspresji latynoskim jazzie. Decyduje o finalnym efekcie akustyczne brzmienie zespołu, dzięki temu możemy zatopić się w muzyce pełnej charakterystycznego rytmu, pulsu, barwności, życia i bogactwa.

Blanco Y Negro "Timbero" to wspaniały jazzowy album, który w swoim gatunku podnosi poprzeczkę o kilka stopni.
autor: Mateusz Krępski
Copyright © 1996-2018 Multikulti Project. All rights reserved

Editor's Info:
In 2006 Blanco y Negro released an acclaimed album. The band’s recording and live performances merging Cuban music and Scandinavian jazz caused quite a stir. The band hibernated for a while, but in 2014 the appearance of the amazing pianist Abel Marcel sparked Blanco y Negro to life again.
Marcel is at home in the Cuban tradition, but he is also a vibrant improviser in modern jazz as a member of saxophonist David Murray’s group.

With the addition of Swedish sax player KarlMartin Almqvist – a member of the Danish Radio Big Band – Blanco y Negro was reborn. The new Blanco y Negro features the original rhythm section: Jonas Johansen is one of Denmark’s leading drummers. He has appeared on more than 170 albums, and he has performed with a long list of international stars including Mike Stern, Steve Swallow and Eliane Elias. Eliel Lazo is wordrenowned for his conga playing (Herbie Hancock, the Danish Radio Big Band, Savage Rose, Wayne Shorter), and Cuban Yasser Morejon is a very popular bassist in many varying contexts. This powerful ensemble plays with an international sound inspired by the heritage of its members – Denmark, Sweden and Cuba – as well as the many places they have traveled digesting the local music.

The musicians are all virtuosos on their individual instruments, but their versatility and impressive technique is not the focus point. It is the story they tell through their musicianship – a spellbinding story of joy and vitality in a colorful, poetic and powerfully swinging language.

musicrepublicmagazine.com - ocena 4/5 - Super Zone:
Stunning Latin jazz album, which raises the bar several feet, and is a welcome return for the acclaimed Cuban-Scandinavian band Blanco y Negro. “Timbero” showcases 10 sparkling tracks, penned by various members of the band.

Who are: Karl-Martin Almqvist on tenor sax, Abel Marcel on piano, Yasser Morejon on bass, Jonas Johansen on drums and percussion, and Eliel Lazo on percussion and vocals. This is a very formidable line-up indeed.

After being in hibernation for some years, Blanco y Negro were reborn in 2014, with two new members, replacing two departures. The admired Swedish sax player, Karl-Martin Almqvist, ‘The Bear’, joined the band – as did pianist Abel Marcel, a vibrant improviser & former member of David Murray’s group.

The rhythm section remained the same – the two Cubans: conga player Eliel Lazo, and bassist Yasser Morejon, plus Jonas Johansen, one of Denmark’s leading drummers. Together they deliver a gorgeously addictive album, full of invention, swing, colour, vitality and musicianship.

In 2006, Danish record label Stunt released an acclaimed album called “Blanco y Negro”, featuring Eliel Lazo (congas, etc), Jacob Dinesen (sax), Tony Rodriguez (piano), Yasser Morejon (bass) and Jonas Johansen (drums)…plus Miguelito Valdes (trumpet) on two tracks. The band’s recording and live performances, merging Cuban music and Scandinavian jazz, caused quite a stir. But after several years they went their separate ways.

However, in 2014, the appearance of the skillful pianist Abel Marcel Calderón Arias, an Amsterdam-based Cuban, sparked Blanco y Negro to life again. Marcel is equally at home with the American & European jazz traditions as he is with his own Cuban jazz roots.

With the addition of Swedish tenor sax player Karl- Martin Almqvist, Blanco y Negro was reborn. Early in his career, Almqvist studied with George Garzone, whilst living in New York. He has gone on to appear and record with a long list of jazz names, including: Pat Metheny, Tim Hagans, Rufus Reid, Joakim Milder, Dave Liebman, Django Bates, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Georg Riedel, Lina Nyberg, the Norrbotten Big band, and currently the Danish Radio Big Band. On this record, Almqvist nods to Ben Webster and Sony Rollins. Fabulous player.

Eliel Lazo is world-renowned for his conga playing, and has worked with a truly diverse list of artists, including: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Kylie Minogue, (yes, you read that right!!!), Gerard Presencer, Savage Rose, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdes, Airto Moreira and the Danish Radio Big Band.

Yasser Morejon is a highly popular bassist in many varying contexts, especially Latin-based: Roberto Fonseca, Chucho Valdes Jr, Calixto Oviedo, the Afrocuban All Stars, and Cubanismo.

Drummer Jonas Johansen has appeared on more than 170 albums (wow!), and he has performed with a long list of international stars including Mike Stern, Steve Swallow and Eliane Elias.

On ‘Timbero’, the band delivers ten new compositions, with composer credits split between the five musicians: three each by Marcel and Johansen, two by Lazo and one each by Almqvist and Morejon. This powerful ensemble plays with an international sound, inspired by the heritage of its members – Denmark, Sweden and Cuba – as well as the many influences acquired on their travels and collaborations.

The musicians are all virtuoso players, but their versatility and technique are not the whole story. It is also the passion, artistry and unity with which they play. Not going to pick out “standout” cuts, because it is all really, really nice stuff. Strong material, killer players, oodles of chemistry and spot on production values from Jonas Johansen.
By Simon Redley

The Guardian - oceana 4/5
Ten years ago, when Blanco y Negro first appeared, their combination of Cuban music and Scandinavian jazz seemed an exotic novelty. Now, relaunched with some phenomenal new players, they’re almost mainstream, but by no means run of the mill. The trickiest task is keeping the Latin and jazz elements in balance, and this they manage perfectly. The music is dynamic and imaginative, and the musicianship superb. All five members have a hand in the composition. Outstanding among them are pianist Abel Marcel and saxophonist Karl-Martin Almqvist, while the conga playing of Eliel Lazo is among the most impressive I’ve ever heard.
by Dave Gelly

muzycy:
Karl-Martin Almqvist (ts)
Abel Marcel (p)
Yasser Morejon (b)
Jonas Johansen (d)
Eliel Lazo (perc, voc)

utwory:
1. Something Personal
2. The Caretaker
3. Timbero
4. The Munch
5. La Aldea Del Norte
6. Taa-Daa
7. Nostalgia De Un Sueno
8. Tradicion
9. October 6th
10. Nostalgia De Otro Sueno

more info: www.sundance.dk