" data-original-title="" title="">Silvano Monasterios invited eight talented companions on board to share the ride. He did not make it easy for them. As envisioned by Monasterios, this river is by turns placid or turbulent, sparse or overflowing—but invariably tricky to navigate and tame.

The entire work, he writes, is "a suite of what I consider Venezuelan music," and was inspired by the people in his native land who were being beaten, jailed and even murdered "simply for manifesting their desire to live in a free and just place." The essay was underwritten by Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation through its New Jazz Works program.

It is a bold and ambitious work, teeming with light, shadow and many curves amidship. It uses well-drawn ensemble motifs to underscore enchanting solos by the ensemble's several expressive voices. Although, as already noted, the charts seldom provide smooth sailing, all hands are on deck to help ensure that Monasterios' pleasure cruise is as shipshape and trouble-free as possible.