Afrodysia: A Mi Tierra

Afrodysia’s Deborah Aviles’ singing on A Mi Tierra (Random Chance) indicates that she hopes for a successful musical melange. Aviles modulates sources such as trova, jazz’s hipness, son and bolero in a seemingly adaptive manner, allocating them into her rather operatic Cuban filin style of singing. As a musical gene carrier of sorts, she has the obvious advantage of a well-trained voice and writing her own material. Curiously, however, Aviles isn’t missed when not singing, and her brunt when doing so isn’t quite lasting-her vocalizations on “Yatra-ta” being a notable exception. The instrumentals, comprising the bulk of the recording, are another issue altogether. Afrodysia’s eager beaverin’ on “Malevo” suggests a videogame set of cool adventurous characters with Tjader-ized and Seis del Solar weaponry jamming their way through musical obstacles toward hopeful recognition and success. In that cut, aside from the slammin’ ensemble playing, pianist Mario Cazeneuve and altoist Mark Gatz shoot their way ’round quite lethally. The twosome also grenade a path through their rendition of Sonny Rollins’ “St. Thomas.” There, a jazzy Braziliana street-beat-hoedown head ends in an oddly metered percussive coda crossfire.

Originally Published April 1, 2004