A November morning
Today was a cold Saturday morning in Copenhagen. The rain hasn’t stopped since the early hours. I drank my morning coffee while scrolling uninterested through my Facebook notifications when a post by my brother Yasser Pino changes everything into an enlightening and extraordinary musical experience – The release of the album ‘The Cuban Jazz Report’.
This is an album that I have been slightly aware of. I knew about its preparations and recordings but didn’t hear anything until now and I’m just excited because I didn’t know what to expect from it. At the same time, somehow I knew it could only be great because these are my brothers for life. I have known Yasser Pino and Eliel Lazo for the last 20 years. I have been so close to their musicianship that I “forget” what great musicians they are until something like this album happens. Then you wake up to this straight-up Cuban Jazz greatness!
‘The Cuban Jazz Report’ is a project by Eliel Lazo (Percussion) and Yasser Pino (Bass) and with the presence of two of Cuban music royalty -The drummer Raul Pineda and, on the piano, the amazing Javier “Caramelo” Gutierrez Massó.
The Cuban Jazz Report
The Album
From track one “Havana Chants” composed by Eliel Lazo, one realizes that there is no BS. It is Cuban Jazz they bring to the table, there are no gimmicks, just well-interpreted music. Followed by the composition of Yasser Pino “Cromason” the album sets you in a path of a true musical enjoyment. It is honest, warm, and beautiful all-together!
Listening to this album one can feel the special chemistry between the four musicians. This may be because they have solid careers on their own – these are accomplished, experienced guys and this project was not something they had to do – but that they truly wanted to do! They wanted to explore the possibility to make an album together and here it is!
Raul Pineda is just an incredible drummer! He is everything you would expect from a Cuban drummer. Beyond that, however, his playing is so universal that it makes him exactly what a Jazz drummer should be all about: technically solid, precise and elegantly respectful of everything happening around him. The same can be said about Yasser’s bass playing -it is always there where it’s supposed to be for the music to flow organically and understandable. Eliel’s communication with Yasser and Raul settles the whole mash-up of what makes a Cuban rhythm session, unique. Last but not least there is “Caramelo” who has these three amazing friends creating the basis for him to shine and he doesn’t miss a beat! The best part about “Caramelo” is that he can go anywhere expressively in his playing. He can be subtle (like in the track “Monday Evening” by Eliel) or more explorative like in his composition “Yo soy”. Either way, it will work successfully!
Another element that makes this album particular is the rather ‘coarse’ use of vocals and choirs in some of the compositions. I think what makes it different from other Latin Jazz records is the way it provides an emotional depth beyond the playing skills -a layer of cubanía that links with the tradition of Afro-Cuban chants, Pregones (expressive vocalisations made by traditional street vendors in Cuba since the early colonial times until nowadays -a great part of the folclore, poetry and Cuban music) and Guarapachanga (Old Cuban form for singing and dancing together).
Coda
I have to say that this album changed my day completely and I will probably be listening to it for the rest of my life, and I’m not being over-dramatic! I know when I listen to an album that it will be part of my journey from the first played chord – I just know like anyone who loves music knows. I can only say thank you, to Eliel, Yasser, Caramelo, and Raul for a wonderful album, that I wish can touch as many souls in the same way it has touched mine! Thanks!⊛
Listen to this album, thank me later :-)
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