I’ve been a fan of Latin jazz for a lot of years, and have noticed that Brazilian music seems to be the Big Dog. Which is not to say that there aren’t plenty of other pooches in the pack, just that they seem to always be trotting along in the shadow of the alpha dog. But even though that might be how things work in the canine world, most music lovers would like to at least have the opportunity to sample a variety of sounds.
If so, a smart move might be to produce an album that blends several styles of Latin jazz. And if you wanted to appeal to an even broader audience, you might include some traditional jazz influences, along with a few vocals and some other surprises. If you did all that, the result might be a new album from Mexican bass-guitarist Gabriel Espinosa, From Yucatan To Rio, now out on the Zoho label.
Espinosa, who has more than a decade of service as the Director of Jazz Studies at Central College, has the right kind of background to combine a number of 
influences. While growing up in Mexico he often enjoyed the Brazilian sound that was everywhere in those days, and in later years has often been involved in traditional jazz performances and recordings.
For his debut as a leader he wisely leans on a number of solid musicians, including Brazilian masters like trumpet wiz Claudio Roditi and pianist Helio Alves. But on an album that’s all about diversity, Espinosa is also helped by the inclusion of artists such as Swiss saxophonist George Robert, along with several vocalists from the New York Voices. Those vocalists jump us right into things on the first track, Jobim’s Brazilian standard “Agua de Beber,” which features three members of the singing group. It’s one of the best here and is an enjoyable variation on the song.
My favorite was probably “Azul y Negro,” which allows trumpeter Roditi and saxman Robert to turn in some good licks, but I also found a lot to like with “Nuevos Horizontes.” The latter is something a little closer to Espinosa’s Mexican heritage, a jarana rhythm piece that features some nice work by all of the above plus a special guest, clarinetist Anat Cohen. Showing the wide variety among the tracks is the inclusion of songs like the oddly-paced “Klavier Latino,” which has a touch of Bach (yes, you read that right) and vocalist Alison Wedding performing her own song, the sad “We’ve Come Undone.”
There are certainly some good listens among the ten tracks, and the album is well worth consideration by Latin jazz lovers. Espinosa might have tried to cover a few too many bases with his debut, but the music is mostly first class and that’s always the bottom line. I’m looking forward to his next effort.
Geezer Music Club 