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Dave Schumacher & Cubeye: Smoke in the Sky

By Jack Bowers
February 7, 2025
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Dave Schumacher & Cubeye: Smoke in the Sky

Chicago-bred, New York-based baritone saxophonist

Dave Schumacher

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Schumacher leans heavily toward Latin melodies and rhythms on Smoke in the Sky, his recording of an able septet he has dubbed Cubeye. Contemporary jazz lies at the core of Schumacher's cross- cultural endeavor, one that his like-minded teammates take readily to heart while lending their insight and expertise to the largely warm and engaging enterprise.

While Schumacher's burly baritone, reminiscent of

Pepper Adams

saxophone, baritone
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Pepper Adams,

Ronnie Cuber

saxophone
1941 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Ronnie Cuber,

Nick Brignola

saxophone, baritone
1936 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Brignola,

Gary Smulyan

saxophone, baritone
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Smulyan,

Cecil Payne

saxophone, baritone
1922 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Payne and other masters of the instrument, is front and center on every number, there is ample blowing space for other members of the group, most notably pianist

Manuel Valera

piano
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Manuel Valera, saxophonist

Peter Brainin

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Brainin and bassist

Alex "Apolo" Ayala

bass, acoustic
b.1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex "Apolo" Ayala. Trumpeters

Josh Evans

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Evans and

Jesus Ricardo

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jesus Ricardo alternate, with Ricardo taking solo bows on the opening "Smoke in the Sky,"

Stanley Cowell

piano
1941 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Cowell's charming "Cal Massey,"

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner's gently swaying "Walk Spirit Talk Spirit" and the Latin standard "Poinciana" (somehow credited to

Nina Simone

piano and vocals
1933 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Nina Simone), which wraps up the session.

As to the rhythm, a key element in any album of Latin music, it is in the capable hands of Valera, Ayala, drummer

Joel Mateo

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Mateo and percussionist

Mauricio Herrera

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Mauricio Herrera. No letdown there. Valera is a superb accompanist whose solos are never less than commendable while Ayala and Brainin are sharp and seductive whenever called upon to take the spotlight. Besides wielding his muscular yet expressive saxophone, Schumacher wrote the title song, its mellow counterpart "(No More) Smoke in the Sky" and the animated "El Dilema de Chegui Metralia," which includes stellar solos by Brainard, Schumacher and Ayala.

Anyone who favors jazz seasoned with a southern ambiance should find much to admire here, as Smoke in the Sky depicts bright and luminous Latin music with a capital L. The music is eloquent and pleasing, as is the performance by Schumacher and his admirable septet.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Smoke in the Sky; You Know It��s Wrong; Caridad; (No More) Smoke in the Sky; El Dilemade Chegu Metralia; Cal Massey; Walk Spirit Talk Spirit; Poinciana.

Personnel

Dave Schumacher

saxophone, baritone

Josh Evans

trumpet

Jesus Ricardo

trumpet

Peter Brainin

saxophone

Manuel Valera

piano

Alex Ayela

bass

Joel Mateo

drums

Mauricio Herrera

percussion

Album information

Title: Smoke in the Sky | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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