Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Edmar Castaneda: Entre Cuerdas

467

Edmar Castaneda: Entre Cuerdas

By

Sign in to view read count
Edmar Castaneda: Entre Cuerdas
Although jazz aficionados have become accustomed to the regular expansion of the music's vocabulary coming from the Caribbean and South America, virtually nothing in the history of the increasingly diverse genre known as "Latin jazz" has prepared audiences for the uniquely innovative sound of Edmar Castaneda. A native of Colombia, Castaneda plays "el arpa llanera," the folk harp commonly heard in his country's indigenous music, but there is nothing common about his virtuosic command or the music he performs. Possessing an amazing multi-tiered technique broadly encompassing melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements, the harpist is a virtual one-man orchestra; within the context of the unusual instrumentation of his working trio with trombonist Marshall Gilkes and drummer David Silliman, his work is nothing short of magnificent, delivering on the impressive promise of his debut Cuarto de Colores.

From the opening notes of Casteneda's bluesy skronking introduction to his "Sabroson"—more reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix than anything in the jazz lexicon—the harpist's imposing technique is on full display, alternating dark percussive chords with airy cascading arpeggios, flowing into a syncopated Afro-Cuban dance on top of which Gilkes states the warmhearted melody and John Scofield delivers a soulful Wes Montgomery-inspired solo. The exciting title track showcases the leader's aptitude for playing melody and bass lines simultaneously, on a tour de force that melds the Eastern-influenced sound of Alice Coltrane with that of flamenco music. The unaccompanied "Jesus of Nazareth" is a moving contemplation, marking Castaneda's spiritual devotion also felt deeply on his "Canto," on which his spouse Andrea Tierra delivers a stirring vocal. Vibraphonist Joe Locke augments the group on the high-flying "Colibri" (also featuring Samuel Torres' cajon) and the optimistic ode "Song of Hope." Elsewhere the trio plays typically swinging jazz, but on the whole the music here is anything but typical.

Track Listing

Sabroson; Entre Cuerdas; Jesus de Nazareth; Colibri; Song of Hope; Colombian Dixie; Canto; Looking Forward; Afro Seis.

Personnel

Edmar Castaneda: Colombian harp, Leader; Marshall Gilkes: trombone; David Silliman: drums,percussion; John Scofield: guitar; Joe Locke: vibraphone; Andrea Tierra: voice; Samuel Torres: cajon.

Album information

Title: Entre Cuerdas | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: ArtistShare

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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

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.