Miguel Zenon
Esta Plena
Marsalis Music
www.marsalismusic.com

Gabriel Alegria-Afro-Peruvian Sextet
Pucusana
Saponegro Records
www.saponegrorecords.com

Here are a couple releases by jazz musicians that mix the traditional feel of their native country with the jazz sensibilities of El Norte.

Jazz alto saxist Miguel Zenon is one of jazz’s rising stars; so much so that he got a giant Guggenheim Grant to help him along the way. This recording finds the Coltrane-inspired saxist combining traditional Puerto Rican “plena” music with contemporary post-bop jazz. The mix of vocals, male choruses and hand drums blend superbly with Zenon’s jaz team of Luis Perdomo/p, Hans Glawischnig/b and Henry Cole/dr. Zenon and team deliver with abandon on the instrumentals “Villa pameras” “Progresso” and “Villa Coope” while the rich voices give extra fat to the sizzling steak on the impassioned “Que Sera Puerto Rico.” Very similar in vision and sound to Jane Bunnett’s Spirits of Havana, this group serves it up piping hot.

Gabriel Alegria takes his trumpet and flugelhorn to lead a team with laura Andrea Leguia/sax, Freddy Lobaton/perc, Hugo Alcazzar/dr, Yuri Juarez/g, and John Benitez-Ramon De Bruyn/b for a mix of traditional and modern South American melodies. The lyrical “Pureto Pimentel” includes some luscious tenor work, while “Taita Guaranguito features some wide open horn. The melodies shift like palms in the breeze, alternating between seduction and post soccer victory party. An intriguing read of “My Favorite Things” shows great promise for this open eared leader.