Second Half (Emilio Solla Music)
Emilio Solla y La Inestable de Brooklyn
Released October 1, 2014
Grammy Nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album 2015
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RwMBG0OA6So&list=OLAK5uy_kpd6i2yJ57A55dKLWeGkP4rhePRVyfeJM
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/60ve8rLpA7PyrgrA36hsoy?si=Aq_6Qae6R_Wzf0jnz3WN3A
About:
In April 2010, Argentina-born and Brooklyn-based pianist/composer Emilio Solla made 8 phone calls. A week later, John Ellis, Ryan Keberle, Alex Norris, Victor Prieto, Tim Armacost, Meg Okura, Jorge Roeder and Eric Doob got together with Solla to start reading the first sketches of what would become one of the most original and outstanding large ensemble projects for the past few years in New York, La Inestable de Brooklyn (The Brooklyn Unstable Orchestra)
Four years and more than 60 concerts later, their adventure resulted in the recording of the 2015 GRAMMY NOMINATED album Second Half at Systems Two, in Brooklyn, NY. This album is a step forward in the Latin Jazz field, combining the freedom of jazz music with tango and folk rhythms from Argentina and Latin America, all enhanced by the writing of one of the most respected composers of the Argentine post-Piazzolla era: Emilio Solla.
About Second Half (from the liner notes):
In 2012 I had my first major adult life crisis. I had spent most of my life doing what I love to do: playing, in the full sense of the word. But suddenly I became fully aware of the passage of time, of the finitude of life and things. I won’t say I liked it; ignorance can sometimes make you happier than wisdom. But I had no choice other than to go through it.
The first half is over, I had a great time playing, and my team is ahead by 2 goals. I’ve learnt a lot and enjoyed a lot. I’ve been fouled a few times, but with no serious consequences. There is still a lot of air in my lungs, and my legs remain in good shape. I am going out for the Second Half armed with a playful spirit and with the experience of the first half in my hands and in my soul. I decided to celebrate this new period of the game with some good music. I hope we have scored, but this is for you the listener to tell.
Halftime is over, they are calling out the players. Second Half, here I come. Still full of ideas and innocence, still in love. But calmer and maybe slightly wiser. And, as always, ready to keep on playing.
“Carpe Diem. Memento Mori”
Emilio Solla
Track Listing:
1. Llegara, Llegara, Llegara (Emilio Solla) 10.36
2. Chakafrik 6.38
3. Para La Paz 6.22
4. Suite Piazzollana 12.53
5. Esencia 6.01
6. American Patrol (F. White Meacham / E. Solla) 4.36
7. Raro 7.54
8. Rhythm Changed 6.18
Personnel:
La Inestable de Brooklyn
Emilio Solla: piano
Tim Armacost: saxophone tenor, soprano, flute
John Ellis: saxophone tenor, flute, bass clarinet
Alex Norris: trumpet, flugelhorn
Ryan Keberle: trombone
Meg Okura: violin
Victor Prieto: acordeón
Jorge Roeder: double bass
Eric Doob: drums
Guests
Pablo Aslan, JP Jofre and Marcelo Woloski
Recorded July 2013, at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY, by Joe Marciano
Edited by Ben Rubin
Mixed by Brian Montgomery
Mastered by Mike Marciano
Executive Producer: Denny Abrams & E. Solla
Artistic Producer: E. Solla
Assistant: Alejo Solla
Design and Photos: Anna Yatskevich
Review:
What do you get when you blend a bit of Tango, Jazz,
Latin and some chamber music? The answer? Pianist Emilio Solla y La Inestable
de Brooklyn nine-piece orchestra delivering their Second Half album
of World fusion music that is quite enticing. The album is the culmination of
several years performing this particular ensemble in some of the best venues
throughout New York City. For some time now, Solla has been an in-demand
composer and arranging of music for large orchestras for various artists
including Arturo O’Farrill and Paquito D’Rivera and for this album, the pianist
designs a project of largely original compositions.
Employing a group of A-list players in an unusual instrumental format, the
leader manages to produce a vibrant sound that catches one’s attention even
though the opening “Llegara, Llegara, Llegara,” clocks in at over
ten-minutes in length, while “Suite Piazzollana” endures at close to
thirteen-minutes. Solla takes the standard piano trio format and adds a trumpet
(Alex Norris), trombone (Ryan Keberle), a couple of reeds (Tim Armacost
and John Ellis), a violin (Meg Okura) and an accordion (Victor Prieto), to
form one of the most unique ensembles around.
The music begins with a light introduction by the
pianist on his opening “Llegara” (Will Come), developing nicely as
Prieto’s accordion and Okura’s violin lead the way to a crescendo of horn
sounds turning this starter tune into one of the most engaging tracks of the
set. The following “Chakafrik” takes a slightly different direction
with an almost modern jazz texture also found on the balladic “Para la
Paz” (For the Peace) which contains several warm solos making this track,
the soft spot of the disc.
The Tango sound seems in full display on the lively “Suite
Piazzollana,” perhaps entitled in tribute to the creator of the modern
Tango sound, the great Astor Piazzolla, Solla delivers his best solo
performance of the album on a tune containing many mood swings and challenges.
Bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Eric Doob have their
moments on “Esencia,” while on the only non-original piece of the
album, the F. White Meacham “American Patrol,” is completely
reimagined here as a Latinized version. After the rarified sounds of
“Raro,” the album ends on the light side with “Rhythm
Changed,” clearly one of the outstanding tunes of the recording.
Pianist Emilio Solla himself describes that, in the first part of his life, he
has been …”doing what I love to do: Playing,” and that now
with Second Half, the pianist celebrates the beginning of the rest of his
life, letting it all hang out performing the music he loves with his atypical
band, La Inestable de Brooklyn. One sampling of Second Half is enough
to discern that this is not your standard jazz album which, most probably, is
exactly what Solla had in mind, to be different. As such, the major difference
here is, that this leader and group, have successfully fashioned a unique
musical statement well worth a listen.
Edward Blanco (All About Jazz)
