Compelling Notes From Valdes, Irakere

“Featuring” doesn’t quite describe Valdes’ participation in this new outing by the much-praised Cuban band. Most of what happens in this fiery collection of pieces traces to the pianist’s vivid, high-speed improvisational imagination and the manner in which he manages the sheer talent of Irakere’s current installment.

In his soloing, often in introductions or bridging interludes, Valdes slows down for a rhapsodic passage or two. But not for long. He seems more intent, throughout most of the album, upon ripping off as many notes as he possibly can--and that’s a lot. The result is reminiscent, at times, of a Jackson Pollack painting, filled with bursting spatters of notes, sometimes accumulating into coherent segments, sometimes simply flying in abstract directions, but always compelling.

Combine Valdes’ piano with splendid horn soloing, crisp, cohesive ensemble passages and an eclectic set of original tunes, and the result is a collection that solidly confirms Irakere’s status as one of the finest jazz ensembles in the world. Fully capable of providing brisk vocals and dance music--as they do on other recordings--their focus here is straight-ahead jazz in a rhythmic Cuban setting.

And they do it extremely well, via incredibly rapid ensemble passages on “Mister Bruce” (presumably dedicated to label head Bruce Lundvall), a funky drive on “Santa Amalia,” a boppish line on “La Explosion” and a soulful tune on “San Francisco.” In sum, the first must-have jazz album of the new year.

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