Journey To A New World

Reviewed: 2017-11-09
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: The title is appropriate because Saraga takes us on a journey into modern Latin jazz without any old clichés. All tracks are original except #7, a surprise unto itself. The band is tight and versatile, & the plying is evocative.. On a side note, I used to see Remy Le Boeuf and his brother playing jazz at the farmers market in Santa Cruz!
If You Like: Roy Hargrove, Ron Francis Blake, Freddie Hubbard
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ Uprising (9:28) - bass/piano starts> uptempo jam slows to slow tempo> trumpet solo> sax solo builds to midtempo & crescendo> melody shift> uptempo jam> quick fade
*2/ The Great Journey (10:52) - trumpet starts> slow tempo jam swings to midtempo & hesitant> full band swing> piano/trumpet duet> trumpet solo> fast tempo jam slows to long fade
3/ Firm Roots (8:56) - electric piano starts> slow tempo jam> electric piano solo> sax solo> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> drum solo>slow jam & fade
*4/ Sabbath Prayer (9:53)- trumpet solo starts> slow tempo jam> bass solo> guitar solo> trumpet solo> slow jam> fade
*5/ The Guardians (8:49) - trumpet starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> midtempo off-kilter jam> piano solo slows it down> slow jam> bass solo> slow jam swings to uptempo & fades
*6/ Lullaby (7:16) - guitar starts> slow tempo jam> bass solo> piano solo> trumpet solo> guitar solo> slow jam> fade
7/ The Fool On The Hill (9:17) - bass starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> percussion solo> trumpet solo> Fender Rhodes/guitar duet> midtempo jam> slow fade & crescendo end
*8/ New World (9:29) - sax starts> slow tempo jam> piano solo> guitar solo> sax solo> slow jam> fade