Marialy Pacheco: & WDR Funkhausorchester: DANZÓN CUBANO

Marialy Pacheco - piano; Juan Camilo Villa - bass; Rodrigo Villalón - drums;

feat. Joo Kraus - trumpet;

Gordon Hamilton - conductor; WDR Funkhausorchester

It's a bit like when sophistication and entertainment merge, a marriage of highbrow and lowbrow music - only, who is who? "Danzón Cubano" is the blend of Marialy Pacheco on the piano, alongside her fellow musicians Juan Camilo Villa on bass and Rodrigo Villalón on drums, as well as trumpeter Joo Kraus as a "special guest" on one side, and the WDR Funkhausorchester conducted by Gordon Hamilton on the other.

In this combination, Marialy Pacheco effortlessly and virtuosically scales a new musical mountain, a new world, a new mix: a dance of sound between Cuba and classical music. And it's such that the fiery solo pianist and the multivoiced orchestra don't alternate but play together, letting each piece bring something new to experience.

Above all, they play for the large audience. Melodies cascade, harmonic waves explode, suddenly engaging multiple senses at once.

This happened in 2017 at the International Jazz Festival in Viersen. Before the concert, one might have wondered: What is the trio of Cuban pianist Marialy Pacheco doing with the WDR Funkhausorchester at a jazz festival? How can and should this collaboration work, and how does it sound? The answers were immediately provided at the start of the concert. With "Baby Steps First," composed by conductor Gordon Hamilton and inspired by the jazz classic "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane, the orchestra launches with a jazzy prelude and sets a broad musical tone. A perfect beginning.

And then she arrives: Marialy Pacheco - she definitely holds the festival record for high heels. She brings music from her Cuban homeland, from Central America, and her own compositions, which she arranged with Hamilton for the orchestra. Traditional melodies that immediately resonate with the audience, variations, improvisations, and a dreamlike interplay with her trio colleagues Juan Camilo Villa and Rodrigo Villalón, who execute every subtle musical cue from their band leader.

All in all: music with mainstream potential, yet never worn out. The richness of sound and the hot rhythm make every seat seem absurd. "Danzón Cubano" becomes an experience, both for the seasoned concertgoer and the unprepared listener. A magnificent album full of energy, where you can easily get swept away while still recognizing brilliance in every beat.

For more information, visit www.marialypacheco.com