Jane Bunnett and Maqueque On Firm Ground/ Tierra Firme

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
On Firm Ground/ Tierra Firme
Linus Entertainment

The award-winning soprano saxophonist and flutist, Jane Bunnett has recently turned her bands and recordings into showcases for Afro-Cuban jazz. With Maqueque, Bunnett has created something phenomenal. Originally it was a project to record and mentor young brilliant Cuban female musicians, and in 5 years has become one of the top groups on the North American jazz scene. The other members of this collective are Joanna Tendai Majoko, vocals; Yissy García, drums; Tailin Marrero Zamora, bass and vocals; Dánae Olano, piano and vocals; and MaryPaz Fernández percussion and vocals. Also appearing with Maqueque are Dayme Arocena, vocals; Melvis Santa, vocals; and Nicole Nikki D Brown, steel guitar and vocals. Each member contributed at least one composition to this fascinating recording.

This a superb band as established from the beginning with "La Linea (The Line-up)" with spirited vocals and playing. Bunnett and Olana both shine on Bunnett's "Monkey See, Monkey New" with lyrics by Santa. Santa also takes the lead on the vocal and rap over the hot tropical grooves. Bunnett soars on the flute over the incendiary percussion on "Momentum," while Brown's piercing steel guitar whine adds to the title track. That number has a superb Bunnett soprano sax, a relaxed, spirited tempo and on a performance that builds to a volcanic climax.

The musical temperature drops for the leisurely, stately tempo at the beginning of "Habana De Noche (Havana at Night)." Marrero plays superbly along with Bunnett's swirling soprano sax and the fabulous rhythm section that throughout makes the listener want to get up and dance. "Reêncuentro (Re-United)" sounds like a samba over burning coals with group vocals and the snake-charm soprano sax floating over the Dánae Olana's two-fisted piano accompaniment and the rousing percussion. Brown's "Broken Heart" has a more melancholy feel that infuses Bunnett's soprano sax along with Brown's tart sounding steel guitar.

Listening to this recording, one understands how they made the top ten jazz combos in DownBeat magazine's critic's poll. They are a superb Afro-Cuban jazz band as heard on the excellent, often thrilling, music on "On Firm Ground/ Tierra Firme."

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the November-December 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367). Here Jane Bunnett and Maqueque perform "La Linea."