Marilyn Lerner In Cuba: Birds Are Returning CD

A creative post-bop pianist from Canada who is quite capable of swinging and interpreting standards but is also open to the exploratory innovations of the avant-garde, Marilyn Lerner has an original and fairly flexible style. For this CD, Lerner ventured to Cuba with flutist/soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett and bassist Kieran Overs, recording seven originals, "I Loves You Porgy," and Horace Silver's "Que Pasa" with some excellent Cuban musicians. The music swings in its own fashion and is sometimes quite moody and brooding, yet has a joy of its own. Chief among the Cuban players are the talented Yosvanny Terry on tenor and alto and the deep-toned baritonist Javier Falho. Performed by groups ranging from a trio to a ten-piece (which includes four Cuban percussionists), this is not Latin or Afro-Cuban jazz per se as much as it is inventive modern mainstream jazz. Well worth checking out. ~ Scott Yanow

Editor: Clive Perry.

Unknown Contributor Role: Jane Bunnett.

Personnel: Marilyn Lerner (piano); Marilyn Lerner; Jane Bunnett (flute, saxophone, soprano saxophone); Yosvany Terry (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Javier Falbo (baritone saxophone); Kieran Overs (bass instrument); Dafnis Prieto (drums, snare drum); Inor Sotolongo, Inor Sotolongo (percussion).

Recording information: EGREM Studios, Havana, Cuba (01/1997); Havana, Cuba (01/1997).