Ongoing Dreams

This is Eduadro Tancredi's follow-up to his 2000 Latin Spell, and his first for Spanish label Fresh Sound Records. Pianist Tancredi, who studied and now teaches at Boston's Berklee College of Music, delivers another batch of crisp band arrangements, churning polyrhythms, and fine horn solos, as well as seven of his distinctive compositions. But this CD is more ambitious and reaching — edgier, with a darker tone. This registers from the first discordant notes of "La Mama Vieja" — a whirl of raucous dissonance before the coherent power of the band kicks in, including a blazing trumpet solo by Russ Hill. The feel is insistent and urgent, as in the churning "Jopo Ropo Ropo," the turbulent title track with its shifting themes, and bassist Fernando Huergo's "Loud Pictures" with its passionate horn statements. Even the ballad "Levitating Soul" is shadowed and searching, while "Mirame a Los Ojos" ("Look in My Eyes") begins languidly until Dino Govoni's blistering tenor builds into a fierce duet with composer and altoist Luiz Rodriguez. Similarly, Tancredi's solo, Monk-ish rendition of "Basilio Araujo" is alternately reflective and fiery. His push-the-envelope creativity sparks his "Moon Over 33," which features a bass duo over the crack of claves, and "Mazamorrera"(or "Corn Vendor"), which is bookended by an 18th century street chant and filled with fast and furious horn exchanges. The friendliest track is reedman Nestor Toro's "Sofra," a sultry cha cha take on the changes of "Sweet Georgia Brown." All told, Ongoing Dreams is an intense, original listening experience that blurs the lines between Latin music and jazz.