I came upon this 2012 release just this year (2014), as Ortiz was embarking on a tour that included many U.S. stops. I find this music moving and challenging in equal measures.
Ortiz, a native of Santiago, the second-largest city in Cuba, is equally inspired by the diverse sounds found there and the explorations of American and European 20th century classical composers like Arnold Schoenberg and Aaron Copland, plus the late 20th century funk of James Brown, Sly Stone and the like. Mix it all together in a big, hot pot and you get this Orbiting jazz fusion. He’s studied and taught at the Berklee School of Music and immersed himself in the New York scene.
Ortiz is an amazing pianist, as you can hear on the album’s title track, which highlights both Cuban trova sounds and the complex tonalities and rhythms of contemporary classical.
Otherwise, Orbiting is more of a straight modern jazz record. I thought I was hearing something familiar on the complex piece “Ginga Carioca,” then realized what it was, when I read through Ortiz’s publicity material. Among his credits is a stint on keyboards with the renowned Portland bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding, including her debut album Junjo, one of my favorites of the past decade.
This date includes the lovely and pensive standard “Alone Together” with particularly sensitive work from guitarist David Gilmore, the emotive ballad “Green City,” the intricate fusion of “Wru,” mysterious and exotic “Numbers” and the pastoral “The Heir.”
(Fresh Sound New Talent, 2012)
