A Really Pleasant Surprise

Saxophonist Hector Bisignani has most recently worked with percussionist Luis Agudo on the Red Records roster. His recording Estao Todos Al turns out to be the biggest and most pleasant listening experience of the year. Based on this, what I was expecting was a percussion heavy Latin orgy. What I got was an urbane and swinging collection of originals in all forms—hot bop, ballads, blues, all with a Latin underpinning with subdued percussion.

The disc opens with bassist Paulo Paulelli's skipping composition, "Now." Bisignani's alto saxophone is tastefully understated and the head is doubled with voice, a nice touch. The genre is well behaved, lyrical post bop. The title piece, full of stretching bass and off rhythm, is the most abstract of all of the pieces, unexpectantly weaving in and out of melody. Joseval Paes provides some tasty guitar on the title track as well as upbeat complex blues "Zanzibar" and straightahead "Impacto Blues." Edsel Gomez's piano introduction to "Ariela" is lyrical and percussive without becoming Cecil Tayloresque. "Surprise Blues" is the most infectiously Latin of all of the pieces.

Bisignani's reed work is beautiful, his tone even and full with only a slight aroma of vibrato. His band will well integrated and propel their music with an effortless sense of swing.