| Piano |
“Piano, piano…” yet another beautiful work presented by the Joshua Espinoza trio. Latin American pianist Joshua is unveiling his highly anticipated second album titled “Songs From Yesterday.” A sonic reflection on his life and the music that has shaped him, the album’s inception took place during the early days of the pandemic—a period that prompted Espinoza to contemplate his life, his complex childhood, and his earliest musical memories.
Having grown up in the conservative culture of the southern United States with Mexican and Appalachian roots, Espinoza struggled to come to terms with his homosexuality and racial identity, turning to the piano as a refuge of peace. It is through these distinct aspects that the composer guides us through this musical architecture, akin to landscapes visited, where joy, beauty, and poetic forms take center stage as the most striking expressions of this album. The influences are diverse, no need to delve into them here; you’ll easily recognize them thanks to the generosity of his compositions. This album features five original compositions as well as inventive renditions of timeless favorites by Espinoza’s preferred singer-songwriters – Lennon/McCartney, Billy Joel, and Leonard Cohen – making it even enticing for those who are not typically drawn to jazz.
On the musicians’ front, we naturally find Joshua Espinoza on the piano, Kris Monson on double bass, and Jaron Lamar Davis on drums – a trio that operates in perfect harmony. “Songs From Yesterday” is a splendid patchwork, but where Joshua Espinoza truly shines is when he lets his culture burst forth, as evident in a track like “Don’t Fan The Flame”. There, a sort of magic unfolds, and one can readily understand what contributes to this musician’s success. This album should grant him a broader and well-deserved audience. His previous album, “Journey Into Night,” was acclaimed by the press. “Songs From Yesterday” stands as one of the highlights of the season according to the editorial teams at Bayou Blue Radio and Paris Move.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 29th 2023
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