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Marcos Varela: San Ygnacio

By Dan McClenaghan
March 8, 2016
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Bassist

Marcos Varela

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcos Varela, Houston-bred and now New York-based, opens his recording debut, San Ygnacio, with a big, brash version of the standard, "I Should Care." His rhythm section is rounded out by veteran pianist

George Cables

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">George Cables and drum icon

Billy Hart

drums
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Hart, so a free swinging zest is expected, and delivered.

Logan Richardson

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Logan Richardson on alto sax makes it a quartet, with tart tone and stretched notes that bring the legendary alto saxophonist

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean to mind. It's a bold anthem of an introduction, and it may be here for Varela to prove—on his first recording—that he can put together a band and lay down a standard with the best of them. He succeeds marvelously.

Varela traces his American roots to a time back before America existed as a country, back to the day of the Spanish land grants. The disc's title refers to the town of his family's 1750's land grant. "Santa Colinas De Santa Maria" is the name of the familial rancho, and the title to the Valera-penned second tune of the set, and—given that the inspiration of the music is more than two and a half centuries old—it is remarkably modern-sounding, bubbling with magic and mystery. Varela does a bit of a mixing of the line-ups here, and "Colinas..." features a quartet—alto sax and a rhythm section—heard on only two numbers. It's group capable of the subtlest intricacies, an ensemble able to stroll "out there" while maintaining the leader's focused vision.

Trombonist

Clifton Anderson

trombone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Clifton Anderson—saxophonist

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins' trombonist of choice—sits in on two of his own original compositions, "Misuru" and "Sister Gemini," injecting the set with a vibrant mainstream feeling, and pianist George Cables, of the core quartet, brings in one of his tunes, the lovely, pensive "Looking For The Light," while leader Varela contributes "Where The Wild Things Are," begins with a spooky three minute intro that shifts into a propulsive, prickly piece of modern jazz.

San Ygnacio is a rare mixed bag disc that works exceedingly well. Everybody shines—Billy Hart and George Cables, trombonist Anderson and also the younger crew, as well as Marcos Varela and his sharply-honed vision for the sounds he has molded.

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Track Listing

I Should Care; Colinas De Santa Maria; Mitsuru; Lulaby For Imke; Sister Gemini; Pepper; Red On Planet Pluto; Looking For The Light; Picturesque; Where The Wild Things Are (Intro); Where The Wild Things Are.

Personnel

Marcos Varela

bass, acoustic

Marcos Verela: bass; George Cables: piano; Billy Hart: drums; Logan richardson: alto saxophone ( (1, 4, 8, 10, 11); Clifton Anderson: trombone (3, 5); Dayna Stephens: tenor saxophone (6); Arnold Lee: alto saxophone (2, 7); Eden Ladin: piano (2, 7); Kush Abadey: drums (2, 7).

Album information

Title: San Ygnacio | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Origin Records

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