Kairos Sextet: Transition

Dafnis Prieto is a Cuban born drummer who moved to New York City in 1999 where he worked with various musicians before starting his own quartet. From 2005 to 2014 Prieto worked as a faculty member in Jazz Studies at NYU before moving to Miami and teaching at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in 2015. Under the mentorship of Prieto the Kairos Sextet was formed and includes some of best musicians the Frost School has to offer:

Sam Neufeld (trumpet)
Tom Kelley (alto and soprano saxophones)
Sean Johnson (tenor saxophone)
Nick Lamb (piano)
Jon Dadurka (upright and electric basses)
Johnathan Hulett (drumset)

Prieto is also the executive producer so you can imagine his influence can be heard in this work. The disc begins with the title track, a complex jazz piece that veers in many different directions as the soloists, especially drums, saxophone and trumpet lead the music in unexpected twists and turns. Subtle flavourings of Latin jazz are added to the mix giving the music a certain rhythmic flair. On the more docile “Sunspot� the trumpet, sax and piano solos will truly amaze the ears. This is as talented a group of jazz musicians as they come. The band also tackle the Prieto track “Triangles And Circles�, another showcase for each member to shine. The saxophones and trumpet intermingle brilliantly as the groove moves things along at a brisk pace. The band really heats it up, especially near the end of the piece. “Dafnison� is at a more leisurely pace and a bit more low key offering a much needed breather, although the soloists still get a workout. On “I Remember You� the horns sound invigorated in the band’s post-bop landscape and the piano solo is as equally impressive.

This is as impressive a jazz debut you will hear this year. A truly creative and absorbing listen along all eight tracks. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. Transition (6:47)
2. Sunspot (6:16)
3. (No) Time To Spare (5:25)
4. On And On (7:10)
5. Triangles And Circles (5:07)
6. Dafnison (6:05)
7. I Remember You (5:22)
8. Thrive (6:43)

Added: June 23rd 2018
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Oficial Site
Hits: 819
Language: english

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