HAROLD LOPEZ NUSSA - Un Dia Cualquiera
MACK AVENUE 1135
Harold Lopez-Nussa (p); Gaston Joya (b); Ruy Adrian Lopez-Nussa (d)
Recorded Boston MA no dates listed.
Despite all the titles being in Spanish and the names of the musicians this is not a Latin based album. Lopez Lussa is a free flowing pianist in the bop tradition with a light touch and the ability to swing at all tempi. Cimaron the opening track is a straight ahead up tempo swinger with tasty piano lines and rhythmically complex bass solo and a good workout from the drummer. Almost all of the originals were written by the pianist leader and the themes are bright and inventive with a jazz quality that makes you think much of the material is familiar, even though it isn’t! The second selection slows down the tempo somewhat but is, again, a smooth piece of bop for the 21st century. Bass and drums are well integrated into the fabric of the material and both rhythm players are strong soloists when called upon. Drummer Ruy is the leader’s brother as acknowledged on the credits and thanks in the sleeve notes. Track 3, Une Tarde Cualquiera En Paris takes us into ballad territory, the melody sturdy and more memorable than many originals thrown together by jazz musicians on their CDs. Bassist Joya takes a short, virtuoso solo and the piece ends with a well- constructed but brief drum excursion. Preludio is a warm, melodic composition played with an emotional flow from the pianist with sensitive support from bassist and drummer.
Hailed in the jazz press as ‘the latest in a line of extraordinary jazz keyboard players to emerge from Cuba,’ there is much to enjoy in these eleven selections. All are melodic and inventive and the skill and sensitivity of the trio members is impressive. Only the last track Mi Don Cerra’o is a line in the Latin style but it serves to remind us that Lopes-Nussa, as well as being a gifted jazz bopper can also do the more familiar, to him, Latin jazz bit.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
MACK AVENUE 1135
Harold Lopez-Nussa (p); Gaston Joya (b); Ruy Adrian Lopez-Nussa (d)
Recorded Boston MA no dates listed.
Despite all the titles being in Spanish and the names of the musicians this is not a Latin based album. Lopez Lussa is a free flowing pianist in the bop tradition with a light touch and the ability to swing at all tempi. Cimaron the opening track is a straight ahead up tempo swinger with tasty piano lines and rhythmically complex bass solo and a good workout from the drummer. Almost all of the originals were written by the pianist leader and the themes are bright and inventive with a jazz quality that makes you think much of the material is familiar, even though it isn’t! The second selection slows down the tempo somewhat but is, again, a smooth piece of bop for the 21st century. Bass and drums are well integrated into the fabric of the material and both rhythm players are strong soloists when called upon. Drummer Ruy is the leader’s brother as acknowledged on the credits and thanks in the sleeve notes. Track 3, Une Tarde Cualquiera En Paris takes us into ballad territory, the melody sturdy and more memorable than many originals thrown together by jazz musicians on their CDs. Bassist Joya takes a short, virtuoso solo and the piece ends with a well- constructed but brief drum excursion. Preludio is a warm, melodic composition played with an emotional flow from the pianist with sensitive support from bassist and drummer.
Hailed in the jazz press as ‘the latest in a line of extraordinary jazz keyboard players to emerge from Cuba,’ there is much to enjoy in these eleven selections. All are melodic and inventive and the skill and sensitivity of the trio members is impressive. Only the last track Mi Don Cerra’o is a line in the Latin style but it serves to remind us that Lopes-Nussa, as well as being a gifted jazz bopper can also do the more familiar, to him, Latin jazz bit.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
