ANDY NEVALA

EL RUMBON (THE PARTY)

Zoho Records

Andy Nevala, piano; Andy Eulau, bass; Frankie Quiñones & Ireland Faughn, percussionists; Emrah Kotan, drums; Neff Irizarry, guitar; Carlos Averhoff Jr., tenor saxophone.

Pianist Andy Nevala and his group open with a lovely Latin arrangement of the familiar Stevie Wonder tune, “Isn’t She Lovely.”  The arrangements on this album are all Afro-Cuban based.  Stevie’s tune is played in 6/8 time.  Across these ten tracks, Nevala endeavors to fuel “The Party” (El Rumbon) album with Latin energy and Cuban/African rhythms.

Track #3 uses percussion to capture my attention.  It’s the title tune and Nevala’s piano dances atop the percussion of Frankie Quiñones and the drums of Emrah Kotan. Midway through the arrangement, the drummer and percussionist are given space to shine and strut their stuff. You will hear their brilliance laced with intricate montuno patterns.

Next, they tackle a Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock composition called “Butterfly.”  I like their Afro-Cuban swing arrangement.  They also cover a Sting tune and on Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” composition, they add Carlos Averhoff Jr., on tenor saxophone.  His solo improvisation is impressive.

Nevala takes the very famous “A Night in Tunisia” and reimagines it with a 7/4 songo feel, bringing a fresh rhythmic complexity to the Dizzy Gillespie standard.  The John Coltrane composition called “Countdown” is totally rejuvenated with a 5/4 beat.  Their energetic, fast arrangement of this Coltrane classic certainly must cause sparks to fly on the bandstand.

For Andy Nevala, this album is more than just playing music.  It’s about honoring a tradition.

“I’ve been lucky to learn from some of the best musicians in the world.  Now, my job is to pass that knowledge on, whether through my playing, my teaching or my recordings,” Nevala writes in his liner notes.

If you love Latin jazz, you will enjoy every moment of this music arranged by band leader and Atlanta based pianist, Andy Nevala.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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