Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Fernando Huergo: Living These Times

261

Fernando Huergo: Living These Times

By

Sign in to view read count
Fernando Huergo: Living These Times
Bassist Fernando Huergo mixes Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and mainstream jazz grooves on Living These Times, an energetic collection of original music for the East Coast-based Blue Music Group label. The Argentinean-native is aided by an outstanding cast of musical companions, including vocalist Luciana Souza, flutist Anders Bostrom and pianist Alan Mallet.

With the amount of bass solos heard throughout the recording, there's no mistaking this is a bassist's project. As a soloist, Huergo is exceptional, demonstrating horn-like flourishes on both electric and upright bass. Tunes such as the opening "Albiazul," "The Reason We Don't Get Along" and the title track feature extended bass/percussion breakdowns with chops-heavy excursions. The breezy "Lejania" finds Huergo's lyrical fretless bass in sync with the wordless vocalizing of Souza.

Although the disc emphasizes the Berklee College of Music instructor's prowess on electric bass, Huergo is also a highly adept upright player, as demonstrated on the ballads "La Agonia del Rufian Melancolico" and "Zamba Para Jorge y Emiliano." Huergo's well-crafted compositions, built around the energetic pulse of drummer Steve Langone, leave plenty of open solo space for flutist Bostrom and tenor saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart. The disc's only cover, "How High the Moon," is a raucous Afro-Cuban arrangement featuring pianist Mallet—a disc highlight.

Living These Times is a vibrant musical statement from a charismatic voice among jazz bassists.

Track Listing

Albiazul; La Agonia del Rufian Melancolico; The Reason Why We Don't Get Along; Lejania; Living These Times; Zamba Para Jorge y Emiliano; How High the Moon; Moonlight Over Somerville; October; Afterwards.

Personnel

Fernando Huergo: bass, composer; Luciana Souza: voice; Grazyna Auguscik: voice; Anders Boström: flute; Eric Galm: percussion; Steve Langone: drums; Alan Mallet: piano; Ole Mathisen: saxophone; Pernell Saturnino: percussion; Jacques Schwarz-Bart: saxophone; Juan Cruz de Urquiza: trumpet; Ben Wittman: drums.

Album information

Title: Living These Times | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Blue Music Group

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.