Love the Moment

Pianist Oscar Hernandez mixes and matches with scintillating Afro Jazz artists Justo Almario/sax-fl, Oskar Cartaya/b, Christian Moraga/perc, Gilbert Castellanos/tp and Dayren Santamaria/vi for a sizzling session. Almario earns his name as the "Latin Coltrane" here with a wonderfully mysterious soprano outing on "Love The Moment" while his tenor glows over the leader's earthy piano on "Latino Jazz" and the muscular "Alternative Roots." Feathery flutes team with Castellanos' rich horn during "Silent Prayers" with some folksy string swaying on a gypsy spirited violin on the lovely "Danzon For Lisa."Cartaya's electric bass bounces throughout, and pulsates with the percussion like rice in a skillet. This is a cooker!