Steve Tavaglione, who helped form the world-beat group Caldera with Jorge Strunz 25 years ago, plays saxophone, flute, clarinet and programs a synthesizer on Silent Singing, which was produced by Beal and features nine compositions by Beal, Leonard, Vince Mendoza, John Beasley and John Patitucci. The CD has a movie-soundtrack feel, but is foremost a memorable jazz album that benefits from its many moods and its great ensemble, which includes Tavaglione, guitarist Peter Maunu (who provides a delicious funk-disco guitar rhythm and soaring rock-guitar lines on Beal’s “Threw Me for a Loop”), percussionist Alex Acuna and bassists Doug Lunn and Dave Carpenter. It’s one of the best of the year, rich in ideas and musical passion.
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