Radio Guantánamo: Guantánamo Blues Project, Vol. 1 [Canada]

• Artist: Jane Bunnett
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 18, 2006
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

On this intriguing set, flutist and soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett explores music from the Guantánamo region of Cuba, music originally brought to the area from Haiti and West Africa. Bunnett's group infuses the exciting styles with jazz improvising and, due to the inclusion of Jumpin' Johnny Sansone on guitar, harmonica, accordion, and vocals, a dose of the blues and New Orleans rhythms. There is a great deal of variety to this set, ranging from the folkloric music of the voice and percussion ensembles Grupo Changui de Santiago and Grupo Changui de Guantanamo to the brilliant tenor saxophone playing of Dewey Redman, the contributions of Howard Johnson on tuba, and Bunnett's regular group with trumpeter Larry Cramer. While some numbers are dominated by vocals, even those pieces generally include interplay with the horns. For jazz listeners, the instrumentals are of greatest interest, as is the mixture of styles and idioms. Highly recommended. [The 2005 Canadian edition included bonus content on CD-ROM.] ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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