Album Notes

Dirk K - flamenco guitar
Andy Suzuki - sax, flute, bass clarinet
Dean Taba - bass
Cristiano Novelli - percussion


The quartet’s second release is an audiophile SACD pressing that offers a resonating ambiance to its organic and personalized fusion of modern jazz, flamenco and Brazilian music. And they extend concepts witnessed on their debut recording Flamenco Jazz. Here, the instrumentalists spawn a prismatic musical portraiture, enamored by innumerable contrasts and hues.

Dynamics are craftily implemented via the ensemble’s intricately woven unison choruses and gentile movements that are elevated with crisp bop segments and odd-metered diversions. On this superfine 2009 effort, the artists perform music that breathes, and flourishes, where they assimilate a worldly stance into the embodiment of the program.

Guitarist Dirk K or woodwind ace Andy Suzuki engage in supple thematic forays and generate high-heat within the core jazz element. But Dirk K’s strong compositions and the group-centric methodologies yield the winning formula. All parties reside on the same musical plane via whirling dervish type movements and quirky phrasings that transparently reformulate into jazz-flamenco patterns and more. Simply put, it’s music that matters. Enjoy the sounds! - Glenn Astarita