Daniel García Trio: Wonderland

On their third release for Germany's ACT Music, pianist Daniel Garcia, bassist Reinier El Negrón and drummer Michael Olivera display in spades why they have moved to the fore of the fiery foment of Spain's spirited and trailblazing jazz scene with the imaginative and highly approachable Wonderland.

Fired by eleven Garcia originals of expansive grace, Wonderland opens liltingly and peaceably with the aptly titled "Paz" but soon gets down to business with "Gates to the Land of Wonders," a spurring antithesis to the leadoff track. Here García comes crashing into focus on ecstatic waves of arpeggiation. A hyped up El Negrón and Olivera leap from the cliff and its game on! A percolating dance of equals ensues as the track gathers its syncopated energy.

Guitarist Gilad Hekselman sets alight the blithe yet moody "Wonderlands," a spirited and effusive composition wherein the four musicians meld into one, each lending to its richness, its resonance and its lasting power. Emanating from the heart, "The Gathering" highlights García's very joyous and open approach to his music. The trio (now in their seventh year as a gigging and recording unit) gavotte and dart to their hearts content, creating a special moment among many.

Much like their earlier ACT music releases—Travesuras (2019) and Vía de la Plata (2021)—"Mi Bolita" spotlights García, El Negrón, and Olivera's bright Spanish flair. "Resistance Song" and "Witness the Smile" shed light the pianist's confident lyricism and growing interest in world musics. Wonderland slows a bit when García—perhaps in an effort to further demonstrate his mastery in other realms of musical performance—lets nice but not necessary cameo appearances by two young singers, Veronica Ferreiro (on the only non-original, "La Tarara") and Lau Noah ("You and Me"), distract from the overall organic flow. Fortunately the pensively hopeful "The Path of Life" revives the proceedings on a high note.