The Spotlight Series highlights upcoming Latin Jazz musicians that have yet to reach national recognition. Many of these musicians thrive in local scenes and some tour in support of releases. All these musicians contribute greatly to the overall Latin Jazz scene, and they deserve our “spotlighted” attention.

Fantagious
Ritmo Masacote
Mascote Records
A strong Latin Jazz statement is a bit like a good meal; its hearty flavor is the result of a distinct mixture of spices. The right combination of spices can send your senses into a frenzy, keeping you coming back for more servings. A slight offset of the recipe often leaves you questioning the artist - did they add too much of one spice or too little of another element? Too much of one musical element changes the recipe completely and moves the artist towards an unfamiliar and sometimes unwanted meal. A recipe that lacks spices produces a bland result; it presents a predictable and often boring statement. At times, highly dissonant spices are forced together into an unpleasant mixture, and after one sampling, the listener rejects the musical menu altogether. That first taste of an unfamiliar but intoxicating dish exists as a magic moment, leaving the listener with a recipe that they love but can’t explain. As the music’s spices fill the listener’s senses, the mystery and pleasure combine into an unforgettable experience. Pianist Joel Massicot leads his group Ritmo Masacote through a unique set of compositions and arrangements on Fantagious that mix a wide palette of musical spices into a fantastic dish.

A Cuban Influence, With A Modern Edge
Several tracks draw upon a straight-ahead Cuban influence, interpreted with a modern edge. A ferocious unison percussion break leads into a piano and bass vamp on “Melancholy,” before the wind players jump into a rhythmic melody. Saxophonist Tim Mayor pulls together several long strings of notes into an exciting improvisation, followed by trumpet player Richie Viruet’s muted statement. As Massicot maintains a pulsating montuno over Panagiotis Andreou’s funky bass line, timbalero Pablo “Chino” Nunez explodes into an energetic display of chops. The wind players wind through a twisting melody over a stuttering background on “Machete Son,” contrasting by long, lush notes on the song’s bridge. Massicot invokes a timba feel with a bold montuno over a percussion breakdown, leading into strong solos from Mayor and Viruet. A synthesizer patch adds a unique sonic quality to Massicot’s solo, as he guides a slowly growing idea towards a climax. A slow rumba lends a mysterious feel to the extensive melody on “Fantasia,” eventually resolving into an up-tempo montuno from Massicot. Mayor experiments with offset rhythmic ideas and quick runs until Viruet uses syncopated phrases and space to build his muted solo. Massicot’s powerful montuno serves as the inspiration for a series of inspired exchanges from Nunez and conguero Luisito Quintero. These tracks display Massicot’s serious foundation in contemporary Cuban music and the band’s ability to perform powerfully in that context.

Integrating Very Different Inspirations
Massicot shows the diversity of his influences with a group of songs that draw upon very different inspirations. The aggressive groove that opens “Fusion” matches its namesake, mixing a funky bass line ostinato and recurring references to a backbeat. The band lowers its dynamic as Mayor begins his improvisation, matching him closely as he build his solo through sequences and quick runs. After a unison interlude, Viruet creeps into his statement quietly, using the natural power of his instrument and innate musicality to develop his ideas into a roar. Andreou introduces “11 Ways” with an unaccompanied bass solo, full of indulgent runs and chordal ideas. The main groove focuses upon a floating 11-beat time signature, providing an interesting foundation for Massicot and Mayor to construct original improvisations. After a return to the main melody, Massicot applies his able montuno skills to the 11-beat structure, allowing drum kit player Pablo Bencid an opportunity to solo in this unique setting. Massicot briefly improvises alone before polka-esque piano pattern on “Clowning Around,” which combines with an Afro pattern and Middle Eastern flavored melody. The band moves from the melody into a traditional son montuno pattern while Viruet improvises boldly with a thick reverb shaping his sound. After a carefully constructed solo from Massicot, Quintero pushes the song into a frenzy with an impressive improvisation, full of tradition and virtuosity. These songs show very different sides of Massicot’s musical personality, exposing an artist with vision and range.

Connecting To The Music’s Lineage
Several pieces come from more traditional sources, showing Massicot’s link to the music’s lineage. A driving forward motion pushes the standard groove on Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage,” riding behind a conventional reading of the melody. After a series of band breaks, the rhythm section explodes into a heavy groove, inspiring Mayor into a frenzy of ideas. As Mayor reaches a dramatic climax, Nunez enters assertively with an inspired display of improvisational prowess. Guitarist Michel Gonzalez implies a strong flamenco influence with an unaccompanied solo on “Rumba Walk,” leading into a hypnotic ostinato and melody that maintains the Spanish flavor. The band follows the established mellow tone as Gonzalez and Massicot attempt to capture the mood and feel of flamenco with their improvisations. The group bursts into a driving montuno section, providing some additional momentum behind Mayor’s passionate statement. Massicot enters “Take Five” with a standard piano pattern while the rhythm section creates a Latinesque groove in 5. Andreou gives his solo a rock edge with a variety of contemporary bass techniques, including slapping, tapping, and fast runs. Massicot jumps into a 5-beat montuno for solos from Quintero and Bencid, as the odd time signature inspires a series of new licks from the percussionists. Massicot reveals a firm grounding in traditional jazz and Latin styles, giving an important backstory to his compositional approach.

A Memorable Musical Meal
Massicot picks an interesting blend of influences to stir into his recipe on Fantagious, providing an interesting and satisfying listening experience. He builds his compositions upon a Cuban music foundation, providing a strong connection to a familiar Latin Jazz sound. Massicot’s interpretation of Cuban rhythms leans more towards timba than mambo, giving the music a distinctly modern edge. His powerful montunos drive this approach, pushing the groove with assertive energy. Andreou supports this approach with funk-filled bass lines that dance around the clave and rock fueled solos based on heavy technique. The percussionists provide a good deal of soul throughout the performance; Nunez and Quintero maintain the authentic link to Cuban rhythms. The way that Massicot integrates other influences over this foundation supply the interesting element in his musical recipe - from odd time signatures to fusionesque grooves and flamenco guitar, there’s a whole lot more spices than your standard Latin Jazz album. Massicot’s strong and unique blend of musical elements could make any musical meal memorable; on Fantagious, Massicot’s distinct recipe demands second helpings and more.

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