If you enjoy the genre in its purest form, then this is not jazz. Do not approach this album. Neither do it to these musicians. If you are clinging to a preconceived idea, rhythm, phrasing used, don’t think it twice, this is not jazz. If you are expecting a naive remake, better look elsewhere. Because, here they defend a peculiar sound, even if they have to move some lines to achieve it. That’s why the CD / DVD Mother Earth, the second phonogram by Cuban saxophonist Michel Herrera, is primarily a shelf of genres, styles and formats.
The spoken word, rumba, Latin jazz, the Peruvian waltz and bossa entwine on a disc that seeks dialogue with universal codes, from the reinvention of national musical essences as foreign. Thus, he tries to be part of the renovation that has come with the hybrid sounds of world music or are enriched by the ways of free jazz. He also explores areas ranging from acoustic to electronic, looking for a way to say, where there are no limits to experimentation.
“It’s an ambitious idea in order to take our music everywhere, make it international while remaining Cubans and bring the public to that sound space. We have our own way that strengthens us from mixing with the different styles and genres of Cuban music. With us you can find jazz along changüí, rumba, pilon and harmonic cycles associated with traditional genres, “Herrera says.
Under the Colibri label, the project is part of the collection El Joven Espíritu del Jazz Cubano that has assembled a group of talented musicians, often with awards at festivals like Jojazz. According to Herrera, there is a generation of young Cuban jazz musicians who are already part of a movement, which has been the backbone in recent years. Enough time to review who converge on the phonogram: Jorge Pacheco and Luis Alejandro Falcón (on piano), David Faya and Julio César González (on bass), Yoandry Argudín (on trombone), Edgar Martinez (percussion) Reinier Mendoza (on drums) and singer Yanet Valdes.
The recording project presents eleven tracks, of which four are authored by Herrera, “an opportunity to show myself as an arranger and composer,” he said. Similarly, his work is unique in “Intro” with Etian ( Brebaje Man) , who was responsible for the lyrics of the song. Meanwhile, Joaquín Betancourt , music producer of this album, gave life to ” To the top,” a rumba that brought together artists Mandy Cantero , Zunilda Remigio , Alexander Abreu, Guillermo del Toro and Adel González .
Versions of works in anthologies return with new textures are also included. In this case it is “The Repairer of Dreams” and “Small daytime serenade” by Silvio Rodriguez, as well as “I come to offer my heart” by Fito Paez , the latter revisited with the trumpeter Yasek Manzano.
The CD / DVD Mother Earth is accompanied by a mini – concert recorded live by Manuel Ortega and Luis Jr. as director. According to Herrera, the project is ready and should start its tour in the Cubadisco Festival this year.
But we don’t have to wait until then. On March 17 at seven pm, in the Che Guevara Room, Casa de las Américas, Michel Herrera and Joven Jazz will be in charge of the opening chords of the International Award and Symposium of Musicology, to be held in that institution. There will be Mother Earth, championed by a group of young people who are specifying the idea that the Cuban jazz should not be rooted in preconceived formulas or commercial shortcuts.
They try something else. If you wait a quiet and respectful disk. If you think these musicians are only a reflection and restrained to tradition, repetition, or beaten path tracing, then, start looking elsewhere, because that’s not jazz….
