Mauro Refosco Seven Waves

Intriguing and, if you can get past the horrors of the Cha-Cha on vibes that prostitutes itself as an opening track, then, an engaging album that on the one hand captures New York avant garde jazz infused with Brazilian/South American, although often sounding more African/Australian, rhythms and on the other explores the rhythmic similarities between North and South America. Avant gardism not in the John Coltrane way, but more Anthony Braxton and very Don Cherry. And like Braxton's and Cherry's music, most of the important stuff is going on in the spaces between the notes, and the instrumental dynamics of conflict and harmony: the relationships in music, the music in relationships. Jews Harp gently pushed through layers of softly chanted vocals, gusty trumpet softly rising on a gentle Bossa Nova breeze; "Seven Waves" is an overall mellow album but it has pulsating undercurrents, like hot Latin blood coarsing through the veins of a cool cat.