Marcos Toledo with James Robbins and Dan Nadeau: Winter

Marcos Toledo is an exciting jazz guitarist who loves to come up with sophisticated melodies and intricate arrangement ideas inspired by the greatest jazz performers. His latest album Winter collects originals and standards for a hard bop affair. Toledo unites with two other talented musicians on these songs, double bassist James Robbins and drummer Dan Nadeau. They're a thrilling trio.

"I'm Getting Sentimental over You" is the perfect opener. It gives that special atmosphere which takes one back to a smoky jazz club in the '40s, where the true music connoisseur would linger on after hours, listening to the bands doing their very best work. "Punx and I" features some amazing neo-jazz influences, reminiscent of artists as diverse as Nels Cline and Julian Lage, to mention only a few. "Peace" brings a beautiful melody to the table, with a sound that is expressive and cinematic, in the vein of influential guitarists like Marc Ribot. "Inner Urge" is one of the best snapshots of the band's chemistry, adorned with a sophisticated rhythm section that keeps up with Toledo's astonishing guitar work. "This Room" follows right along, with a more traditional old-school vibe. The following number, "Canicula" also leaves some room for experimentation, combining a classic approach with a more contemporary twist. "(Old) Milestones" and "Light Blue" are so good flowing into one another because they bring such a different flavor to the release. Last, but not least, "Water Cave" is a solid closing song, reiterating the amazing mastery of these musicians.

Ultimately, Toledo managed to achieve something incredible here, combining vintage melodies with modern influences, and packaging a well-produced release that has a warm and timeless sound which will appeal to any fan of the genre.