Miguel Zenon Ceremonial CD

For his second album, Puerto Rican-born saxophonist Miguel Zenón, who received plenty of acclaim for his debut, assembled what he calls his "dream band" -- pianist Luis Perdomo, bassman Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Antonio Sanchéz -- for a fascinating quartet date. Two covers bookend the album, one of Silvio Rodríguez's "Leyenda" and the other a surprising choice, the old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," and they, along with Zenón's original compositions, show the range and direction of his work. There's a spirituality to it that's evident throughout, a questing through music. And once more he continues in his quest to find the intersection point between jazz and Latin music, a place that makes sense to him, and which he handles well, truly beginning to define a territory that's his own. A powerful player, with an almost miraculous sense of imagination and melody on the instrument, his work here consolidates the work he did on Looking Forward, with Branford Marsalis' production giving plenty of space to the players. Zenón is more than just another young talent. That much is obvious. On the basis of this, he could well prove to be a major artist in the making. ~ Chris Nickson

Recorded at Systems II Studios, Brooklyn, New York in March 2003. Includes liner notes by Fernando Gonzalez.

Personnel: Miguel Zenon (vocals, alto saxophone, percussion); Luis Perdomo (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, percussion); Hans Glawischnig (vocals, acoustic & electric basses); Antonio Sanchez (vocals, drums); Luciana Souza (vocals); Hector "Tito" Matos (bombo, pandeiro).