Roberto Occhipinti Yemaya CD

As a classically trained musician, it should be no surprise that bassist Roberto Occhipinti would join symphonic strings and horns alongside his inclination for playing Latin and contemporary jazz. This session is in full bloom, an innovative and exhilarating project in many ways, and beautifully organic. It is notable that these recordings were done in three different locals -- Occhipinti's native Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Moscow, Russia; and Havana, Cuba. This lends to the overall beauty of music culled from thousand-year-old traditions, multicultural vistas, and earthy Afro-Cuban centrist leanings. With the renowned Russian-based Globalis Symphony Orchestra, Occhipinti and his sextet turn the folkloric title track into a breezy waltz, with the Yoruban chant-like vocals of Pedro Martinez. The orchestra dominates Occhipinti's simple and bright "El Otro Tipo," and both of these tunes feature the Michael Brecker-like tenor sax of Phil Dwyer. They also play a languid and oceanic version of Djavan's Brazilian pop tune "A Ilha" (aka "The Island"). During the lone cut with the Music Toronto String Quartet, "Maracatres" evokes warm beach images and tall, majestic, green sea waves. It's a highly arranged, lucid, and current sound à la Gil Evans, Maria Schneider, or ...