Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Alexis Cuadrado: Metro

143

Alexis Cuadrado: Metro

By

Sign in to view read count
Alexis Cuadrado: Metro
Bassist Alexis Cuadrado (he’s a guy) leads a quintet on this fine all-original session. Kicking off with "Nit," based on "Night In Tunisia" changes, pianist Pete Rende and guitarist Steve Cardenas trade buoyant 8-bar statements over a dancing 6/8 groove, ultimately yielding the floor to an eloquent solo by Cuadrado himself. Cardenas and alto saxophonist Kris Bauman return with a tight shout chorus before the main theme returns. The band segues effortlessly into the mellow, swinging "New and Old," then brings the rhythm to a boil on "One Way Ticket," for which Rende switches to Fender Rhodes. Cardenas waxes Metheny-esque on the ballad "Like Henry" (and Ferber contributes nice percussive flavors); then Cuadrado cops a bit of the "Better Get Hit In Your Soul" feel on "’Round Mingus," a rocking 11/8 vehicle. (The folky cadences also bring Abdullah Ibrahim to mind.) Pete Rende’s haunting pedal steel work resounds throughout "An October’s Cold Night" — apparently it’s overdubbed, since Rende is also heard again on Rhodes. Bauman’s clarinet is another conspicuous departure on this somewhat ghostly track. Rounding out the program are "Ben’s Waltz," dedicated to pianist Ben Waltzer, and "Nana-Blues Grotesque," an off-kilter country tune. Throughout, Cuadrado exhibits maturity and emotional depth as a composer, bandleader and soloist. His music fits the Fresh Sound aesthetic perfectly (some of it sounds a bit like Chris Cheek’s writing); after some six sideman appearances for the Barcelona-based label, his debut is a welcome addition to the catalog.

Track Listing

1. Nit 2. New and Old 3. One Way Ticket 4. Like Henry 5.

Personnel

Alexis Cuadrado, bass; Kris Bauman, saxophone and clarinet; Steve Cardenas, guitar; Pete Rende, piano, Rhodes, pedal steel; Mark Ferber, drums

Album information

Title: Metro | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Blue Moon

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.