Alfredo Rodriguez – The Invasion Parade (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 59:52 minutes | 944 MB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks.com | Digital Booklet | © Mack Avenue Records
Cuban pianist and composer Alfredo Rodríguez explores his memories of Cuba, the people and the culture he left behind and finds his new place on this release, co-produced by Rodríguez’s champion and mentor, Quincy Jones. Featuring a superb ensemble that includes bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, The Invasion Parade contains nine tracks including originals by Rodríguez as well as evergreens such as Guantanamera.
“When you live in your own country, you are immersed in that reality and you’re not necessarily conscious of all the different elements that make it what it is. I breathed Cuban music. Being outside that reality gives me a different perspective. Creating and playing this music has been like finding out who I am, all over again.” –Alfredo Rodríguez
The title of Cuban expatriate jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez’s sophomore offering for Mack Avenue Records is inspired by an annual parade in the island city of Santiago that celebrates the nation’s independence. On the follow-up to 2011’s Sounds of Space, Rodriguez delves deeply into the sounds of his native land with an incendiary approach. Co-produced with Quincy Jones, his lineup for the set includes saxophonists Billy Carrion and Román Filiú, drummer/percussionist Henry Cole, vocalist/percussionist Pedrito Martinez, flutist Javier Porta, and alternating bassists Peter Slavov and Esperanza Spalding. Rodriguez is an exceptionally gifted pianist and arranger, and he delved deep into Cuba’s vast musical variety from guajiro to Yoruban Santeria music, comparsas, timba, Caribbean folk, and, of course, Afro-Cuban jazz, and wound in a thoroughly modern, utterly enchanting mix of originals, folk songs, and classics. Standouts include his bold, dissonant, nearly political reading of “Guantanamera,” the lithe “A Santa Bárbara,” mold-breaking readings of standards such as “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” and “Veinte Años” with bold rhythmic and harmonic extrapolations, and “Timberobot,” a tough workout with flying arpeggios. –AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek
Tracklist:
1 The Invasion Parade 5:34
2 Guantanamera 4:44
3 El Guije 4:13
4 A Santa Barbara 7:09
5 Timberobot 5:50
6 Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) 4:29
7 Snails in the Creek (Caracoles En El Riachuelo) 6:42
8 Veinte Anos (Twenty Years) 4:58
9 Cubismo (Cubism) 5:36
Personnel:
Alfredo Rodríguez – Piano, Minimoog Voyager Synthesizer, Electronics, Percussion
Esperanza Spalding – Vocals, Acoustic Bass (tracks 3, 7)
Peter Slavov – Acoustic Bass
Henry Cole – Drums, Percussion
Pedrito Martinez – Vocals, Percussion (tracks 1, 3, 7, 9)
Roman Filiu – Alto And Soprano Saxophones
Billy Carrion – Baritone Saxophone
Javier Porta – Flute
Download:
mqs.link_AlfredRdriguezTheInvasinParade2014HDTracks2488.2.rar