Blanco y Negro: Timbero

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Jonas Johanesen (d, perc)
Karl-Martin Almqvist (sax)
Yasser Morejon (b)
Eliel Lazo (perc, v)
Abel Marcel (p)

Label:

Stunt

March/2018

Catalogue Number:

STUCD17142

RecordDate:

2017

A decade or so ago the Cuban-Scandinavian outfit Blanco y Negro were a byword for classy latin jazz, what with their inventive and sophisticated blend of sounds from two locales that seem, on the face of it, polar opposites. Their disbanding left a gap made more obvious by fusion-minded pretenders who couldn’t quite get the balance right; thankfully, Blanco y Negro reformed in 2014 with the addition of Amsterdam-based Cuban pianist Abel Marcel (formerly of David Murray’s group) and acclaimed Swedish saxophonist Karl-Martin Almqvist, whose intelligent, often dreamy playing – impressive on tracks such as ‘Caretaker’ and his own ‘La Aldea del Norte’ – has featured alongside the likes of Pat Metheny and recalls the great Sonny Rollins. All the players are superb, however, including the astounding conguero Eliel Lazo, and show off their chops on 10 respectively-penned tracks; opener ‘Something Personal’ by bassist Yasser Morejon lays down the gauntlet with audacious tempo shifts and strutting basslines. Expect sparkling teamwork and inspired musicianship throughout.

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