Cosmogram

4-STARS Born in Mexico, guitarist Hugo Fernandez spent time studying in the U.S. before settling in Spain. Cosmogram features Fernandez and his international quartet (Cuban Ariel Bringuez on tenor and soprano, bassist Antonio Miguel from Spain and American drummer Antonio Sanchez who also originated from Mexico) performing eight of the leader's post-bop originals. While Fernandez's straightforward guitar solos and Bringuez's mellow tones and adventurous styles on tenor and soprano are major assets, the most notable aspects to Cosmogram are the interplay between Fernandez and Bringuez and the leader's compositions. His songs are generally both catchy and inventive, many of the performances develop in unexpected directions, and the often-episodic frameworks make most of the selections sound like mini-suites.