Naima is a Spanish jazz trio made up of Enrique Ruiz (piano, synths), Luis Terregrosa (drums), and Rafael Ramos Sania (double bass, effects), and their fourth album, and first for Cuneiform Records, is titled Bye. Utilizing both electric and acoustic instruments, Bye is a warm, inviting collection of music, expertly crafted & executed by the trio, featuring breezy melodies, daring solo spots, and intricate arrangements.
A soaring "A Father's Anthem" kicks things off in fine fashion, as leathery bass lines mingle with intricate drum fills and classy piano licks, while the title track kicks things up a notch with more insistent rhythms, spacey synths, and Ruiz' velvety smooth piano melodies. Other highlights include the romantic Spanish flavors of "Al Llegar Sabriamos Tanto Como Ella", featuring some fantastic bass runs courtesy of Sania, the blazing jazz-rock fusion of "Future Imperfect", the rumbling, quirky "Animal Chin", and the dramatic "Can't Make a Sound", the latter featuring some distorted bass excursions and majestic piano.
What I really like about Bye is that it never stays in one place for too long; just when you think Naima are going to stay settled into a smooth jazz groove for a while, they lurch into some wild fusion styled jams, daring Latin passages, or classic jazz experimentation. Classy stuff indeed, and another winner from the always dependable folks at Cuneiform.
Track Listing
1. A Father's Anthem (7:24)
2. Bye (4:56)
3. Al Llegar Sabríamos Tanto Como Ella (5:29)
4. Future Imperfect (6:28)
5. Les Débris (7:16)
6. Animal Chin (3:48)
7. Can't Make a Sound (4:50)
8. A Father's Anthem (alternate take) (7:17)
9. Can't Make a Sound (alternate take) (6:54)
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