eMusic Review 0
Esta Plena is how alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon chose to utilize his Guggenheim Fellowship and part of his MacArthur Foundation "genius grant," continuing his exploration of the musical heritage of his native Puerto Rico. As he did with Jibaro in 2005, indigenous rhythms coalesce with jazz improvisation, a musical mating overtly exercised by the addition of a plena trio of hand-drummers and vocalists to Zenon's longstanding quartet. Plena is street music with a rhythmic simplicity related to bomba, an acquired taste that will reward jazz fans as they notice a gradual galvanizing of the septet. "Villa Coope," nails the unique effect of a serene vibe via busy interplay, and "Que Sera de Puerto Rico?" embodies the description of plena as a "sung newspaper" by being at once the most political and most celebratory track here — even more than the ersatz party closer, "Despedida," with its strains of "Auld Lang Syne."
The setting also brings out the pensive, indigo side of Zenon's alto work, which is cool and diffident on the title track over pianist Luis Perdomo's cascading, stop-time chords; it practically floats on "Calle Calma," and uses a heavy tremolo in tandem with the bass, like a sinfonia in early… read more »
