Album Notes

The Jazz Marauders, in their self titled debut CD, show themselves as a versatile and energetic instrumental group as they maraud their way around the musical globe. The group is based in Boston, yet they are ready to push the borders of Latin, Brazilian and even Eastern music in a captivating meld.

A wealth of familiar cover music plants some roots in known territories. (Sorry, digital rights prevent us from providing samples of those melodies here). You can find straight ahead jazz like Golson's Whisper Not next to Latin standards like Obsesion, performed as a soulful Cha Cha, and Midnight Mambo with its driving Cuban roots. The well loved What is This Thing Called Love has a smooth 7/4 samba and swing groove that takes Cole Porter to Brazil and beyond. And check out how Nhuch takes his drums to a different rhythmic planet at the end. When the group aspires to a bigger sound, they take on the brilliant and rarely covered Snow Samba, pushing Anderson's trumpet to new heights.

The original tunes in this collection represent some further explorations. Zmuda's As One marries a contemplative, searching melody with a double time solo section in a serious latinesque groove. Street sounds actually recorded in India by Anderson give Delhi Traffic and impressionistic feel. Shalom-Kobi's Polyjuice with its Latin flavor, is a potion that shifts between two different pulses and moods.

The group may be new, but the players are well traveled as sidewoman and sidemen. On bass and coleading the band is Tal Shalom-Kobi. Her rich sound and flawless rhythm provide a deep soul to the group. Don Anderson plays trumpet and EVI, an electric trumpet rigged to sound like an authentic harmonica or flute. Always melodic, he can surprise you as he switches from a dark Miles-esque tone to one playful and bright. The versatile brazilian drummer, Ricardo Nhuch, is inventive as a jazzer and infuses the music with lots of authentic latin flair. Jeremy Zmuda is the guitarist, creating ear catching harmonies and high energy solos. The Jazz Marauders perform regularly in the Boston area. Visit their web site at jazzmarauders.com .