Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Aruan Ortiz Quartet: Orbiting

Aruan Ortiz Quartet: Orbiting

By Steve Bryant
June 17, 2013
View read count

On an island known for its extensive array of virtuoso pianists, Cuban-born

Aruán Ortiz

piano
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Aru��n Ortiz distinguishes himself from the pack by a transcendent approach to his instrument, and an encyclopedic knowledge of styles ranging from traditional Afro- Cuban and classical to bop. He's also a prolific composer. Having roared into New York City and taken it by storm in a variety of settings, he now holds down the piano chair for the visionary Afro Horn MX group, composed a collection of Afro-Haitian vocal and chamber music from his hometown of Santiago with the Urbana Camerata Ensemble, and he has recorded electronic music with

Bob Gluck

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Gluck.

With the release of Orbiting, Ortiz has completely eschewed his Afro-Cuban roots and recorded a set of straight-ahead music with a quartet consisting of guitarist

David Gilmore

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">David Gilmore, his Afro Horn comrade

Rashaan Carter

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashaan Carter on bass, and veteran drummer

Eric McPherson

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric McPherson. Ortiz starts the set off with "Ginga Carioca," a piece whose ever-so subtle Afro-Brazilian accent places more emphasis on melody than rhythm. He then segues into the title tune, a take on Bill Evans' "Unless It's You." While Ortiz and Gilmore converse in a call-and response manner, Carter's lyrical subtlety perceptively anticipates Ortiz's every move. Another highlight of this date is a hyperactive riff on "KoKo" where Ortiz and company tear through this tune like it's their last living performance. Drummer McPherson takes a cue from the Max Roach playbook on the opening, as Gilmore displays the lightning virtuosity which distinguished his work with the M-BASE crew, with Ortiz matching Gilmore note for note on his frenetic accompaniment.

The group then takes a trip into harmolodic territory on "WRU," showcasing Gilmore's skills as one of the most visionary guitarists of his generation. The set closes with a melancholic return to Ortiz's home on a rendition of "Alone Together" by evoking a Havana rum-mill at 3 a.m. where the last customer is thinking of every reason not to go home to an empty flat.

On Orbiting, the erudite Ortiz has smashed every preconception of Latin pianists and his penchant for innovative expression succeeds in surpassing the output of his musical contemporaries.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Ginga Carioca; Orbiting; The Heir; KoKo; Numbers; WRU; Green City; Alone Together.

Personnel

Aru��n Ortiz

piano

Aruan Ortiz: piano; David Gilmore: guitar; Rashaan Carter: bass; Eric McPherson: drums.

Album information

Title: Orbiting | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ruins
< Previous

Some of my Best Friends are... Divas
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.