“Joined by Richie Barshay on drumset and Reinaldo De Jesus on percussion, they navi- gate bebop, boogaloo, urban, bolero, bomba and rumba grooves on repertoire spanning Bud Powell (“Hallucinations”), Dizzy Gillespie (“Bebop”), Horace Silver (“Quicksilver”), Wayne Shorter (“Yes And No”), Charlie Palmieri (“Start e World”) and Mongo Santamaria (“Afro Blue”) as well as r&b and Tin Pan Alley material. Luques’ syncopation, time feel and note choices refract the essence of such Atomic Era jazz heroes as Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford and Wilbur Ware through a tumbao lens informed by González, Bobby Rodriguez and Cachao. ‘I think our ability to combine those different sounds into our own thing—blessed by the elders, you could say—is unique,’ Curtis said.
He referred to the aspiration- al message of the ‘Truth Revolution’ imprimatur: ‘It means being a free mind, doing something musically or spiritually positive. That’s our goal.’”
Excerpt from the article, “Pursuing Positivity” by Ted Panken, Downbeat Magazine, 2016.
01. Afro Blue (Mongo Santamaria)
02. Hallucinations (Bud Powell)
03. Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)
04. Betcha By Golly Wow (Linda Creed/ Thom Bell)
05. Yes or No (Wayne Shorter)
06. Syzygy (Zaccai Curtis)
07. Start The World I Want To Get On (Charlie Palmieri)
08. All of You (Cole Porter)
09. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Tommy Tucker)
10. What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye/ Al Cleveland/ Renaldo Benson)
11. Cheer Up Charlie (Anthony Newley/ Leslie Bricusse)
12. Quicksilver (Horace Silver)
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Traditional)
Zaccai Curtis - Piano / Rhodes
Luques Curtis - Bass
Richie Barshay - Drums
Reinaldo De Jesus - Congas
