Two titans of contemporary Cuban music get together under the production of the legendary Quincy Jones to deliver a sound show of technical ingenuity, musicality, invention, emotion and pure beauty. Piano prodigy Alfredo Rodriguez finds his alter-ego in master percussionist, bandleader, dancer, songwriter and singer Pedrito Martinez, and the product is an inspired but approachable work, full of surprises, where Pop and Jazz meet West Africa via Cuba.
Between two musicians emerges an orchestra, where notes of just about everything, from Brazilian Samba to Urban Reggaeton, are tossed around, condensed and eventually organized into sublime Jazz lyricism. A rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller is a rare treat; merely the thought that Quincy Jones produced both versions is enough to send shivers down you.
Essentially, the classically-trained pianist, who has something of Weather Report’s late Joe Zawinul in his child-like experimentalism with new sounds and technologies, finds the perfect match in Martinez, a street musician who has become one of the most complete and innovative Cuban percussionists of recent times. At times, exhilarating, and others tender, this is simply beautiful music.
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