Alberto Conde - Corriente del Golfo (2023)

Very special Latin jazz project between the piano, the arrangements and the musical direction of the Galician Alberto Conde and the fantastic voice of the Cuban Diana Tarín with her respective bands. A great musical team of more than 20 established artists to create a musical journey between Spain, Cuba, Africa and even New York. A multicultural project that also includes writers such as Lorca or Dulce María Loynaz and musicians such as Manuel Falla, Ernesto Lecuona or Duke Ellington. The rich Cuban section brings dance echoes to Los Van Van, Chucho Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba or Chico O'Farrill. Among the more than 105 minutes of a double compact with an excellent presentation in a triple digi-pack and with a beautiful 24-page booklet, we have outstanding Cuban percussionists such as Javier Meza, Tony de Cuba or Noelio Rey. But William Pozo is there with his trombone and backing vocals and he is the grandnephew of the great Chano Pozo.

We also have Portuguese musicians and the Vio 430 Chamber Orchestra and the Rías Baixas Choir. The orchestral arrangements are provided by Alberto Conde and Pablo Beltrán. The adaptation of texts from “Poet in New York” by Lorca is carried out with care. Conde usually works on his projects to the core and he also demonstrated it less than 2 years ago with the Atlantic Bridge Jazz Project with the also recommended “Portus Apostoli” (Nuba Records / Karonte). By the way, Nuba Records has also just published Perico Sambeat's latest and outstanding work, “Roneando”. A great combination of flamenco and jazz rhythms with another sensational team of musicians.

But returning to “Corriente del Golfo” we highlight gems like the start with ‘Pel Dourada’. Classical strings, Diana's outstanding voice and percussion and Latin rhythms that even come close to bolero. Another delight is 'Madrigal Á Cibdá de Santiago' with a great fight between the piano and the voice over a warm rhythm section. But we also have classics like 'Para Vigo Me Voy', 'Son de Negros en Cuba' (Lorca) or the outstanding title song. Fantastic are the more than 11 minutes of the standard 'Nature Boy' that flows even to the rhythm of cha-cha.