SWINGING AND SMOOTH SYNTHESIS OF CUBAN AND CAPE VERDIAN RHYTHMS
CaboCubaJazz seems to melt two different cultures without any effort. Initiator and percussionist Nils Fischer of Nueva Manteca fame, brought simply two of its Cuban and two of its Cape Verdian friends together, himself being the connecting rhythmic link.
However, there must have been done extra efforts for this swinging synthesis: In the refined polyphonic call-and-response singing with singer Dina Medina the Cubans sing the criolo lyrics near to perfection.
Just when it all seems to become a little too sunny, pianist Carlos Matos plays a sensational intro to a morna, the local blues of Cape Verde. Here singer Medina shines thoroughly.Nevertheless in the two instrumentals CaboCubaJazz' musicians are really at their best: They enter the boundless landscapes of jazz.
**** [four stars]
Toon Maas, DE VOLKSKRANT [national Dutch newspaper] 07-10-2008
