Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Aruan Ortiz: Cuban Nocturne
Aruan Ortiz: Cuban Nocturne
ByThe pieces on this album reflect the influences of Ortiz youth. Three of the compositions on Cuban Nocturne are credited to Ignacio Cervantes, a late nineteenth century Havana-born composer with a strong influence in the Creolization of Cuban music and one who used music to further his political views. While Ortiz incorporates slightly different angles, his overall approach is both quixotic and inventive as with Cervantes' "Picotazos" where the pianist calls on his familiar improvisational skills to a greater extent. "Tres Lindas" is a composition from Antonio María Romeu (18761955). A Cuban pianist, Romeu was referred to as El Mago de las Teclas (The Keyboard Magician) and specialized in dance music known as the danzón, a blend of European classical music and African rhythms.
Ortiz includes "Danza Negra" by Ernesto Lecuona (18951963), who composed more than six-hundred pieces, and whose music, including "Babalú," was introduced to U.S. audiences by musician and actor Desi Arnaz. Ortiz includes three original pieces, two of which are brief "Interlude" compositions that run about one-minute in length. His title track (sub-titled "Theme from Alas") was originally scored for a movie based on Cuban writer Luis Vargas.
Those familiar with Ortiz' previous solo recording Cub(an)ism (Intakt Records, 2017) will find Cuban Nocturne a warmer, more impressionistic collection but his playing is no less intriguing here. His interpretations of Cuban classics are modernized without losing the original flavor. As with all second-season Newvelle releases, the LP cover features more stunning photography from the Tendance Floue French collective.
Track Listing
Side A: Cuban Nocturne (Theme from Alas); Tres Lindas; Musica Callada; Picotazos. Side B: Interlude; Danza Negra; Los Tres Golpes; Interlude 2; Illusiones Perdidas.
Personnel
Aruán Ortiz
pianoAruán Ortiz: piano.
Album information
Title: Cuban Nocturne | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Newvelle Records