Truth in Music! Interviews, reviews, and a global journey to find the coolest blues and jazz on earth.
💿 ALBUM REVIEW: Rafael Greco - Versos bajo mi sombra
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
-
Rafael Greco—the legendary Venezuelan saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and long-time creative engine behind Guaco—is finally stepping completely out of the big-band shadow to do exactly what he wants. On his new album, Verses Under My Shadow, he skips the predictable jazz tropes to build something way cooler: a hypnotic, avant-garde sandbox where Central African polyrhythms, vocal loops, and literary vibes collide, backed by heavy hitters like Dave Weckl and Jimmy Haslip. It’s an ambitious, deeply personal masterclass in groove and texture, and it sets the perfect stage for the sonic trip we're about to dive into.
Verses Under My Shadow is a solid entry into modern fusion that shows what happens when Rafael Greco is left to map out his own creative sandbox. The album opens with title track, Verses Under My Shadow setting up a dark, atmospheric blueprint where complex rhythmic webs lock in with lush harmonic pads. It establishes a fluid, hypnotic dialogue that sets expectations early and rewards focused listening right from the start. I actually really like this track with it's jagged rhythm by Jimmy Haslip on bass, Fernando Valladares on drums and percussion, Ezequiel "El Negro" Serrano on vocal and drum programming, Yonis Flores on tambora and Greco on keys and vocals. Strong opener. The vibe shifts on La Nuit (for Lester Young), trading raw kinetic energy for a smoky, late-night mood that takes its time to breathe. This piece balances slick, modern sensibilities with the echoes of a jazz legend, turning what could have been a standard tribute into a shape-shifting landscape of sound. Greco on piano and synthesizers creates an interesting melody in concert with Dave Weckl on drums, Luisito Quintero on percussion, and featuring Scott Kinsey on keyboard solo. Very nice.
With a lighter feel, I Changed The Title, features Greco on vocal, Wurlitzer and synthesizer with Haslip on electric bass. This is a strong track that has a tight, radio style melody. Joseph Conrad's Deletions is a challenging track with intensely interwoven concepts by Greco on electric piano, samplers, synthesizers, Haslip laying in some really nice bass work, Santiago Bosch with a synth solo and intensely crisp drumming from one of my absolutely favorite drummers, Vinnie Colaiuta. Greco wraps the release with Sonatina (Méliès) For Solo Piano, a cinematic closing statement that strips away all the preceding digital loops and heavy rhythm sections. By cutting the canvas down to just a solo piano, Greco delivers a melancholic piece of storytelling that is intense yet somber and internalized. Interesting closer.
Featured Personnel: Rafael Greco (Keys, Saxophone, Vocals, Programming), Jimmy Haslip (Bass), Dave Weckl (Drums), Vinnie Colaiuta (Drums), Scott Kinsey (Keys), Luisito Quintero (Percussion), Charles Altura (Guitar)
Versos bajo mi sombra stands as a compelling contemporary fusion record that highlights the artist exploring his own creative playground. The music transitions seamlessly from ambient, intricate layers and a dim, midnight aesthetic early on to a more buoyant, accessible texture in the middle of the release. It anchors its most complex arrangements and remarkably sharp drumming on the penultimate cuts before concluding with a theatrical finale that abandons all synthetic instrumentation for a single piano to leave listeners with a poignant, deeply personal ending.
Bman's Verdict
This release is a compelling contemporary fusion project that flows seamlessly from ambient, intricate layers to a stripped-back, poignant solo piano finale.
Comments
Post a Comment