With Kaiso, trumpeter Etienne Charles revisits his robust Trinidad-Tobago roots, brilliantly exposing their beauty, mystery and fascinating flavors. The fruits of Charles and crew's labor blossom from multiple Caribbean grooves into a highly energized performance, with more jazz-tinged interpretations than his prior outing, the highly acclaimed Folklore (Self-Produced, 2009).

The title tune, from an African word loosely defined as "proceed" (as in "play on"), is dark and hard. With the frontline boiling hot over a pulsing harmonic and rhythmic base, it announces, musically, that this effort will stray in a different, more complex musical direction. "J'overt Barrio" embraces a Latin feel as it weaves across genres and tempos; a New Orleans-style musical gumbo, consisting of Creole, African, and Caribbean musical flavors spiced with whistles and chants.

Charles' tone is sweetly robust and a supreme joy throughout. His marvelous playing—intentionally childlike and playful—showcases his masterful abilities. His classical training and the influence of