Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gustavo Cortinas: Kind Regards

Gustavo Cortinas: Kind Regards

By Hrayr Attarian
October 20, 2022
Sign in to view read count

Drummer Gustavo Cortinas' previous album was cinematic in scale, and he has followed it with the more intimate yet equally enchanting Kind Regards (Saludos Afectuosos). Leading a quintet of young, intrepid, Chicago musicians, Cortinas interpretes ten of his own songs that explore themes of social justice, love, and life in general.

"When I Leave You" has an effervescent cadence. Vocalist and pianist Meghan Stagl endows the lyrics with nostalgia while her keys chime with melancholy. Trumpeter Emily Kuhn expresses the tune's emotive core with a warmth that perfectly complements Stagl's singing.

Kuhn, whose own Sky Stories (BACE, 2020) is an underappreciated gem, plays the melody of the "Libertad" with vibrant elegance. Stagl switches to Spanish on this moving piece. The folkish refrains buoy Kuhn's meandering phrases and Stagl's urgent vocals, while the ensemble performance crackles with excitement

In addition to Stagl and Cortinas, the rhythm section includes bassist Katie Ernst and guitarist Erik Skov. Skov takes an eloquent solo on the achingly beautiful "Wednesday Can't Come Fast Enough." His simmering spontaneous chords bisect the track and enhance the poetry of its words.

Even though Kuhn and Stagl get the most time in the spotlight it is Ernst's subtle yet lithe virtuosity that gives the music its charming lyricism. Cortinas, meanwhile, is not only conceptually the album's life giver but his complex and vibrant beats are the work's pulsating heart. Take, for instance, "Madrugada Nebulosa" that opens with Cortinas' dramatic percussion. The band takes off with a languid tempo as Cortinas drums with a laidback swagger and Ernst's reverberating strings brim with a darkly shimmering fervor. Stagl contributes cascading melodic fragments that mirror Stov's and together frame Kuhn's burnished horn.

Kind Regards (Saludos Afectuosos) showcases a different, more personal, aspect of Cortinas' creativity. Being a multifaceted artist the young drummer maintains a remarkable uniformity of musical excellence while exploring different forms of expression with each release.

Track Listing

I Hope You Have a Good Phone Call Today; Emigraste; Walkin; Libertad; If I Learned Today; Anamnesis; When I Leave You; Madrugada Nebulosa; Wednesday Can’t Come Fast Enough; Amanece.

Personnel

Gustavo Cortiñas

drums

Emily Kuhn

trumpet

Meghan Stagl

piano

Katie Ernst

bass

Erik Skov

guitar

Additional Instrumentation

Meghan Stagl: piano.

Album information

Title: Kind Regards | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

< Previous
Into Another Land

Next >
Freedom Suite

Comments

About Gustavo Cortiñas

Instrument: Drums

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

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.