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In late September Concord released the digital-only Ninety Miles Live at Cubadisco, which collects music from the concert on the same evening the studio sessions released on last year's album were made. Unsurprisingly, the performances are more fiery and exciting, although, again, hardly groundbreaking. On Friday night the project makes its first appearance in Chicago, following a solo set by Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who I wrote about in this week’s paper. Unfortunately, none of the Cuban musicians involved in the original project are in the current version of the band, although considering the logistical and diplomatic difficulties still visited upon Cubans by our outmoded policies, that shouldn't be surprising. The rhythm section appearing is very strong—drummer Henry Cole, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Ricky Rodriguez, and percussionist Mauricio Herrera (who is a Cuban expat living in New York)—but it kind of diminishes the impact of the whole American-Cuban collaboration. One substitution that does make this performance potentially exciting, however, is that Nicholas Payton is subbing for Scott—a major upgrade any way you slice it.
Below you can check out the live version of "City Sunrise."
photo: Jimmy Katz
Today’s playlist:
Various artists, Java: Court Gamelan, Volume II (Nonesuch)
Dinosau, A Little Crime (Propeller)
Benny Carter, Further Definitions/Additions to Further Definitions (Impulse)
Rolf Billberg, Darn That Dream (Dragon)
Philip Glass, Two Pages/Contrary Motion/Music in Fifths/Music in Similar Motion (Elektra/Nonesuch)
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