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Fifteen years after the release of his first album as a leader, keyboardist, composer and arranger Martin Bejerano still insists his is not a great Latin piano player. “I’m not someone who is satisfied with doing just one kind of music,” he readily admits, pointing to the broad stylistic diversity represented by the ten tracks that make up the program on his new album “#CubanAmerican,” his fourth release as a leader. Significantly, he is joined by the same two rhythm section partners who have been with him since the inception of his trio in 2007. Havana-born drummer Ludwig Afonso has performed with an eclectic group of artists, from Spyro Gyra to guitarist Richard Bona, while Edward Perez is a first call bassist in New York City who has worked with Paquito D’Rivera and Lee Konitz, among other notables.
Alan Broadbent is one of New Zealand’s favorite musical sons and perhaps the most well-known and multi-talented of them all. Many are familiar with his arranging and conducting for Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny and Michael Buble. Others may know Broadbent has received 8 Grammy nominations, winning 2 for Best Orchestral Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal, one for Natalie Cole and one for Shirley Horn. On “Like Minds,” he takes a seat on the piano bench for his third recording with his trio featuring the great bassist Harvie S and the colorful drumming of Billy Mintz.
Also this week, Pittsburgh-born organist Bill Heid, who worked often early in his career with greats like Sonny Stitt and David “Fathead” Newman, unveils a new set of originals on “Dealin’ Wid It”;
celebrated American tenor sax icon Scott Hamilton is joined by a Swedish rhythm section on “Classics”;
and Europe’s new jazz big band star, Danish Katherine Windfeld, devotes her compositions to maritime themes on “Orca.”