| Jazz |
“I waited for almost twenty years to record another album with a big band,” says Durán. “But there was a lot to prepare for this recording,” he reveals. He refers to the four radio broadcasts of his compositions and arrangements with the great WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany. “It was wonderful to present my music and ‘work’ on new arrangements… aspects of the craft I learned while working with the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna in Havana, which I inherited from Chucho Valdés… So much to be grateful for the gift of music… it seemed that the time had come for this new album, Cry Me A River,” Durán recounts.
A delightful and colorful album that is a real favorite for the editorial teams at Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move, the arrangements on the cover of “Another Night In Tunisia” are interesting, less so on “Cry Me A River,” a song that has been covered by various groups and singers and doesn’t bring much more in this version. However, all the other tracks on the album are true musical gems, wonderfully interpreted with a delicate and delicious Latin layer. This is where Durán truly showcases his talent, and I admit that without this cover of “Cry Me a River,” this album could have been one of our “Essentials.”
Indeed, after several listens, one is completely surprised by the arrangement writing that organizes the instruments around the theme of each track on the album, similar to the Buena Vista Social Club but with a more jazz-oriented approach, and the result is simply sublime. Unless you dislike brass and saxophone, you will easily be won over by this album. The track “I Remember Mingus” is a true marvel in its genre, and it’s on this track that we feel the full effect of the Big Band – it resonates with incredible power. The track “Another Night In Tunisia” could have even been a wonderful showcase for the group Manhattan Transfer in this version. On most tracks of this album, Durán managed to imprint his mark, bringing out his cultural values intelligently. That’s why we recommend this album to you. And just because we didn’t enjoy this version of “Cry Me A River,” it doesn’t mean you won’t. It’s a matter of personal taste, and there’s something for everyone.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 17th 2023
::::::::::::::::::::::::::