Dave Schumacher & Cubeye: Smoke in the Sky

Chicago-bred, New York-based baritone saxophonist Dave Schumacher leans heavily toward Latin melodies and rhythms on Smoke in the Sky, his recording of an able septet he has dubbed Cubeye. Contemporary jazz lies at the core of Schumacher's cross- cultural endeavor, one that his like-minded teammates take readily to heart while lending their insight and expertise to the largely warm and engaging enterprise.

While Schumacher's burly baritone, reminiscent of Pepper Adams, Ronnie Cuber, Nick Brignola, Gary Smulyan, Cecil Payne and other masters of the instrument, is front and center on every number, there is ample blowing space for other members of the group, most notably pianist Manuel Valera, saxophonist Peter Brainin and bassist Alex "Apolo" Ayala. Trumpeters Josh Evans and Jesus Ricardo alternate, with Ricardo taking solo bows on the opening "Smoke in the Sky," Stanley Cowell's charming "Cal Massey," McCoy Tyner's gently swaying "Walk Spirit Talk Spirit" and the Latin standard "Poinciana" (somehow credited to Nina Simone), which wraps up the session.

As to the rhythm, a key element in any album of Latin music, it is in the capable hands of Valera, Ayala, drummer Joel Mateo and percussionist Mauricio Herrera. No letdown there. Valera is a superb accompanist whose solos are never less than commendable while Ayala and Brainin are sharp and seductive whenever called upon to take the spotlight. Besides wielding his muscular yet expressive saxophone, Schumacher wrote the title song, its mellow counterpart "(No More) Smoke in the Sky" and the animated "El Dilema de Chegui Metralia," which includes stellar solos by Brainard, Schumacher and Ayala.

Anyone who favors jazz seasoned with a southern ambiance should find much to admire here, as Smoke in the Sky depicts bright and luminous Latin music with a capital L. The music is eloquent and pleasing, as is the performance by Schumacher and his admirable septet.

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