Some albums tell you exactly where they come from within a few bars.
Falcón In Blue is one of those records.
Close your eyes and you can almost feel
Havana around you. The heat rising from the streets. The sound of conversation
drifting from open windows. Music spilling from doorways and courtyards. A city
where rhythm is woven into everyday life and where the line between tradition
and modernity feels wonderfully blurred.
That spirit runs through every note of
Alejandro Falcón’s latest album.
Falcón is widely regarded as one of
Cuba’s leading pianists, composers and arrangers, and throughout this record he
demonstrates exactly why. There is a confidence to his playing that comes from
complete immersion in the music of his homeland, but equally there is a
curiosity that constantly pushes beyond convention. The result is an album that
feels deeply rooted in Cuban musical traditions whilst remaining fresh,
contemporary and utterly engaging.
The album forms the first chapter of
Dot Time Records’ wider Cuban Notes project, an initiative bringing together Cuban and
international musicians through collaboration and cultural exchange.
Thankfully, none of that sense of purpose ever overshadows the music itself.
What we hear instead is a group of exceptional musicians sharing ideas,
listening to one another and creating something that feels genuine and organic.
From the opening notes of El Rey
David, dedicated to Falcón’s son, there is a warmth to this record that
immediately draws you in. His piano sound is rich and expressive, equally
capable of delicate lyricism and explosive rhythmic energy. More importantly,
every note seems to carry meaning. There is no unnecessary display here, no
sense of virtuosity for its own sake. Everything serves the music.
One of the great joys of the album is
the way it moves effortlessly between moods and styles. Cuban music sits firmly
at its heart, but these compositions never feel constrained by genre. Son,
danzón, bolero, rumba and jazz all coexist naturally, each informing the other.
Una Tarde En Puerto Padre is a
perfect example. Written during the pandemic as a tribute to the late Cuban
pianist Emiliano Salvador, it unfolds with a quiet dignity that immediately captures
the listener’s attention. There is sadness here, certainly, but also beauty.
Falcón allows the melody space to breathe, trusting the music to speak for
itself. It is a piece filled with reflection and grace.
Elsewhere, Tambores En Colores reminds
us just how powerful rhythm can be. The percussion drives the music forward
with infectious energy while the piano dances around it, creating a constant
sense of movement. It is impossible to sit still while listening.
One of the album’s most intriguing
moments arrives with Falcón’s Blues. Bringing together Cuban rhythmic
traditions and the emotional language of the blues might sound ambitious on
paper, but Falcón makes it feel entirely natural. The piece never feels like a
fusion experiment. Instead, it sounds as though these musical worlds have
always belonged together.
The supporting cast is exceptional
throughout. Roni Ben-Hur’s guitar work adds warmth and subtle sophistication,
while guests including Ted Nash, Rachel Therrien and Orlando “Maraca” Valle
contribute colour and personality without ever distracting from the album’s
central vision. The ensemble playing is consistently impressive, creating a
genuine sense of conversation rather than accompaniment.
What impressed me most, however, is the
sheer honesty of the music. There is no attempt here to package Cuban music for
an international audience or reduce it to a collection of familiar clichés.
Instead, Falcón
In Blue presents
Cuban music as something living and evolving. These traditions are not
preserved behind glass. They are still growing, changing and inspiring new
ideas.
That perhaps is the greatest
achievement of this album. It honours the past without becoming trapped by it.
The wider Cuban Notes project speaks about dialogue,
exchange and collaboration, and those ideas can be heard throughout this
recording. Not in an academic sense, but in the simple act of musicians
listening to one another and responding. The best jazz has always been a
conversation and this album never forgets that.
In many ways, Falcón In Blue feels like an invitation. An
invitation into Cuban culture, into its rhythms, its history and its
extraordinary musical richness. Yet it never demands specialist knowledge from
the listener. The melodies are inviting, the grooves irresistible and the
musicianship consistently superb.
At a time when so much contemporary
music feels disposable, there is something deeply satisfying about a record
crafted with such care, intelligence and heart.
Alejandro Falcón has produced an album
that celebrates where Cuban music has come from whilst pointing confidently
towards where it might go next.
And that’s a journey well worth taking. Glenn Wright
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