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Dafnis Prieto Sextet: Taking the Soul for a Walk

By Michael P. Gladstone
June 22, 2008
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It's been almost a decade since drummer/percussionist/composer and arranger Dafnis Prieto came to New York from his native Cuba. Taking The Soul For A Walk is his third album and the first for his own label, Dafnison. Before adventuring on his own, Prieto spent a period working in a variety of jazz subgenres; which include latin ensembles led by Eddie Palmieri and Michel Camilo, as well as the avant-garde combos of Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman and Peter Apfelbaum.

In terms of his Afro-Cuban background and heritage, Taking The Soul For A Walk is not really latin jazz. Prieto has taken an Art Blakey-like approach in terms of working around original material—in this case, the tunes are all his compositions—and featuring players who have a cutting-edge sensibility. The inclusion of musicians like saxophonists Apfelbaum and Yosvany Terry, as well as trumpeter Avishai Cohen, lend a lot of free-bop into this project.

However, Prieto does display his latin roots on "Until The Last Minute," which after an opening piano introduction, launches into a bolero that the drummer dedicates to his mentor, the late conguero Miguel "Anga" Diaz. This track features an uncharacteristic solo from Apfelbaum on melodica. Following is "Comandante," a latinized original in which Prieto leads the way as the horns enter midway through the composition. On "Emergency Call," Prieto enters into a creative dialogue with pianist Manuel Valera until the ensemble enters at about the 90 second mark. In "Prelude Para Rosa," a composition dedicated to Prieto's mother, Itai Kriss plays the flute.

In sum, Taking The Soul For A Walk represents an ambitious project that showcases Prieto's development and eclectic vision.

Track Listing

Taking the Soul for a Walk; The Sooner the Better; En las Ruinas de su Infancia; Until the Last Minute; Comandante; Just Say It; Tell Me About Her; Two Excuses; I Felt You Were Coming; Prelude para Rosa; You'll Never Say Yes; Emergency Call.

Personnel

Dafnis Prieto

drums

Dafnis Prieto: drums; Peter Apfelbaum: C soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, melodica; Yosvany Terry: Bb soprano saxophone, alto saxophone; Avishai Cohen: trumpet; Yunior Terry: acoustic bass; Manuel Valera: piano, Fender Rhodes; Itai Kriss: flute (10).

Album information

Title: Taking the Soul for a Walk | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Dafnison Music

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