Yet another brilliant young Cuban trumpeter and yet another Rodriguez. No relation to Michael, whose recent Criss Cross CD should be in your collection, this one is the son of the iconic ‘El Conde’ (whom he called the Miles Davis of latin music) and started out as a percussionist and a singer with Eddie Palmieri's band. He was inspired to switch to jazz by his Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan colleague David Sánchez. (Miguel Zenón would follow a few years later). Though with Cuban undertones and a couple of tracks that feature Quintero, this is essentially a jazz album with a difference of the highest order. His sound – and drive – recalls that of Freddie Hubbard more than anyone. As a composer, his melodies have great depth with complex and unusual rhythms. The album opens with his fivesong ‘Jive State Suite’, with telling titles that indicate his self-doubts like ‘Who Do I Trust?’ and ‘Not Good Enough’. The former is a particularly intense composition, veering at times into free form, but the mellow ‘My Patience’ is possibly the most satisfying. David Sánchez must surely be among the most underrated, certainly currently under-recorded, tenorists in jazz. He fits perfectly with Rodriguez, both taking challenging solos full of interesting harmonies played with strong emotion. The ever-excellent Perdomo, another childhood friend, is in fine form throughout, while Ricardo Rodriguez shows why he's so highly regarded in Nuyorican circles and Zenón's group drummer Henry Cole drives the band and takes a couple of aggressive solos. I love this album and have played it repeatedly. Pete Rodriguez, currently based in Austin, Texas is a terrific trumpet-player and an outstanding composer. Unreservedly recommended!