Fernando Garcia's Guasabara Puerto Rico

This is a case where I can judge a book by the cover. Based on a specific font on the cover, as well as the general graphic design, I don't even have to see the little Zoho logo in the upper right hand corner to know this is going to be exciting contemporary jazz. Zoho is a jazz label that puts out consistently good product, jazz releases that are heavy on vision and theme and always break some sort of new ground. From Gil Spitzer's Falando Docemente to Oscar Feldman's Gol to many others, Zoho is consistently excellent in terms of sound quality and performances.

I'm excited by drummer Fernando Garcia's latest release since he's the type of drummer who can also compose and conduct. This means he knows music as well as rhythm, and he understands how to integrate unusual time signatures into melodic pieces. He also explores Puerto Rican traditions of polyrhythms and employs, with Victor Pablo, such fascinating percussion as clave, congas, barril and even the cowbell. He's one of those drummers who is constantly moving and shifting, covering lots of physical ground during a performance while keeping his sextet chugging along in unison.

Did I mention his time signatures? This mix of originals and a pair of traditional Puerto Rican folk songs uses many--12/8 (abakua style), 5/4 (cuembe style), 7/4 (seis corrido style) and even 5/4 and 7/4 being played simultaneously by two different drums. In other words, this is a superb album if you're a fan of drumming, percussion and Latin jazz in general. The playing is absolutely breathtaking. The rest of Garcia's band floats in and out of this sophisticated beats with aplomb--pianist Gabriel Chakarji, guitarist Gabriel Vicens, bassist Dan Martinez and tenor sax player Jan Kus are all "hooked on bomba" and have been playing it for years--with considerable passion. Legendary alto sax player Miguel Zenon is also a featured special guest, and adds a sexy and sultry sound to all this rhythmic heat.

When it comes to folkloric Puerto Rican music, Garcia isn't necessarily a traditionalist. He blends these classic sounds with a more modern approach, especially with the harmonies and polyrhythms. If you're well-versed in this genre of jazz, you might detect these differences. But if you're not as familiar, you'll hear a beautiful whirlwind of sound, fast and exciting, the kind of music that's made to get your heart pumping, to get you out on the floor to dance the night away. You can't listen to Guasabara Puerto Rico passively. It's just too thrilling.