It only took six hours to record Expansión.
That’s pretty old school. Originals of debuting double bassist Felipe Arce figure.
He is from Argentina and Expansión is very retro 1950s-60s sounding in a classic US hard bop sense.
As a calling card and sonic word of introduction he says to the world ”baby, it’s me!”
The best known of the quintet here is pianist Leo Genovese who adds a lot of spirit to ‘Al Campo’ in particular and accompanies sensitively on the lovely ballad, ‘Chi.’
At times the album tends to the flame the Second Great Miles Davis Quintet left burning because saxist Daniele Germani is particularly Wayne Shorter like. But sweet toned Sergio Wagner on trumpet and flugel while making some telling contributions is not at all Miles-like. So there the rough comparison ends. But Expansión is too generic. And there could be more impact in the mix and mastering and the choice of tunes could do with a standard or two. However, it’s still a decent introduction to Arce, a player who is beginning to carve out a sound he and the others can be proud of.
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