Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gorka Benitez: S

Gorka Benitez: S

By Mark F. Turner
October 21, 2004
View read count

With warmth and a rich brown tone, Barcelona saxophonist Gorka Benitez plays with empathy and a rustic quality. The veteran musician has been at the core of Spain's jazz scene for over ten years and has seen recent stints with artists such as pianist Emilio Solla y Afines and trumpeter John McNeil. While Benitez has been known to explore the freer jazz boundaries, as on The Free Session, his new double CD recording Sólo la Verdad Es Sexy (Only the Truth Is Sexy) has a more melodic and lighter stance.

This tight-knit quartet session is diffused with a warm glow as Benitez's horn opens with "Behera," the delicate dance between the instruments giving the impression that the musicians are enjoying the moment with uncomplicated yet tight interaction. The four-movement "Sweet Suite" unfolds thoughtfully with smooth solos from Benitez and pianist Albert Bover, as well as effective work by bassist Nick Thys and drummer David Xirgu. Things swing nicely on "La Bossa ó la Vida," featuring some tight playing by the quartet with loose solos and solid bossa syncopation.

The second CD follows the same pattern of mellow music with highlights such as the soulful "Pepi's Dance" and the modernistic "Garum," which shows the depth of the quartet's ability. The vocal version of "Sólo la Verdad Es Sexy" is much more effective than its instrumental counterpart, featuring guest singer Carme Canela and added guitar, alto sax, and flugelhorn solos. The closing "Flor de Viento" showcases a lovely Spanish waltz as Benitez and his quartet close with a memorable and gentle melody that typifies the recording.

Track Listing

CD-1 1. Behera 2. Sweet Suite 1st mov. 3. Sweet Suite 2nd mov. 4. Sweet Suite 3rd mov. 5. S

Personnel

Gorka Benitez

saxophone

Gorka Ben

Album information

Title: S | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Interplay
< Previous

John Swana: On Target & New York-Phi...
Next >

Support All About 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 make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.