COMPOSERS: Roberto Fonseca
LABELS: Jazz Village
ALBUM TITLE: Yo
WORKS: Yo
PERFORMER: Roberto Fonseca
CATALOGUE NO: 57005
There’s a far more energetic, questing feel to Yo, by hot-shot Cuban pianist and former Buena Vista Social Club collaborator ROBERTO FONSECA. He’s a muscular, versatile and restless player, switching between differing moods and styles. This is an adventurous jazz rather than straight-ahead Afro-Cuban album, and it criss-crosses the Atlantic – courtesy of a multi-national array of collaborators – exploring and celebrating the links between different parts of the African diaspora, such as African-American soul and gospel, and West Africa’s griot traditions. That means startling but well integrated guest appearances by the likes of Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara and kora player Sekou Kouyate, Malian percussionist Baba Sissoko, American spoken word artist Mike C Ladd and Cameroonian funk/fusion bassist Etienne Mbappé, all working alongside Fonseca’s usual jazz quintet.
Jon Lusk