(Latin Jazz, Post-Bop) Otmaro Ruiz - Sojourn - 2008, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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Otmaro Ruiz / Sojourn
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     Filename D:\Donkey Files\Otmaro Ruiz - Sojourn (2007, Minina) [eac-ape-scans] byDrBull\CDImage.wav
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PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
TITLE "Sojourn"
FILE "Otmaro Ruiz - Sojourn.wav" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
    TITLE "And Then She Smiles (Maya's Song)"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 01 00:00:00
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
    TITLE "Claveao'"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 06:35:38
    INDEX 01 06:37:62
  TRACK 03 AUDIO
    TITLE "In TheShadows"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 12:34:65
    INDEX 01 12:35:74
  TRACK 04 AUDIO
    TITLE "Tobago Road"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 19:09:48
    INDEX 01 19:11:25
  TRACK 05 AUDIO
    TITLE "Nube Negra"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 25:52:05
    INDEX 01 25:54:39
  TRACK 06 AUDIO
    TITLE "Until Tomorrow"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 31:01:23
    INDEX 01 31:04:53
  TRACK 07 AUDIO
    TITLE "Living Pictures"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 37:53:36
    INDEX 01 37:55:62
  TRACK 08 AUDIO
    TITLE "Prelude To Life"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 45:17:33
    INDEX 01 45:21:48
  TRACK 09 AUDIO
    TITLE "Somewhere"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 52:28:24
    INDEX 01 52:30:07
  TRACK 10 AUDIO
    TITLE "Easy To Say"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 59:34:39
    INDEX 01 59:36:31
  TRACK 11 AUDIO
    TITLE "The Simple Life"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 65:28:09
    INDEX 01 65:31:66
  TRACK 12 AUDIO
    TITLE "Road Stories"
    PERFORMER "Otmaro Ruiz"
    INDEX 00 71:21:23
    INDEX 01 71:24:20

The Chambers Dictionary describes the word "sojourn" as "a temporary residence or stay, as of one in a foreign land." Pianist Otmaro Ruiz's musical journey offers all the right cues for his Sojourn being so apt to document. Even though it gets somewhat personal at times, it is memorable for anyone interested in taking the journey with him. The obvious association of the word "Sojourn" is where all of Ruiz's simplicity ends. He has a truly complex character, in the best possible sense of that (latter) word. More accurately—and stemming from his compositions to start with—he is a subtle musician. Naturally, this calls for a nuanced application of tonal color in his work.
Conceptually, the whole sojourn concept is a wonderful way to express himself, at least for now. The care with which he has arranged his expedition, right down to the order of the tracks, is proof enough of a great ear for the sounds of the "places" he visits musically. This spans distant lands, from the place of his birth, Venezuela, to Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the Caribbean, and Africa. Then he swings back in a wide arc to the USA, through a remarkable version of a Broadway classic by Leonard Bernstein, "Somewhere" from West Side Story.
"And Then She Smiles (Maya's Song)" establishes the deeply personal nature of some of this record. It is about relationships and bonding, in this case with the musician's two-year-old daughter. Then he branches out to Cuba via Africa on "Claveao," a track wonderfully underscored by Ruiz's sense of Afro-clave, hidden in the melody of the piece. "In The Shadows" and "The Simple Life" have a nostalgic ring as the pianist traverses the landscape of Venezuela; the former in a striking merengue meter. There is much more than calypso in "Tobago Road," as the musician promises. "Nube Negra" is a true fiesta.
"Easy to Say" pays fine tribute to the samba, and to the oeuvre of percussionist Airto Moreira. "Living Pictures" beautifully captures a wide swath of rhythmic territory, from samba to maracatú, capoeira to afoxé and much more, in a rich mélange of ideas couched in harmony. "Prelude to Life" and "Road Stories" are two tracks that go a long way toward establishing Ruiz's reputation as a composer of epic song. The former, a tribute to the late tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, is memorable. Brecker had also played EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), replaced here ever so cleverly by the bassoon.
That brings us to the horn player, Ben Wendel, who has an "old soul" charm and brings considerable charm and erudition to this project. His range of expression on bassoon—on "The Simple Life" too—is not just rare, but simply remarkable as well. Bassist "Carlitos" Del Puerto and the self-effacing drummer, Jimmy Branly, are other reasons why this record will remain in memory for a long time.

Otmaro Ruiz (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, vocals, percussion);
Ben Wendel (bassoon, soprano & tenor saxophones);
Carlos del Puerto, Jr. (acoustic bass);
Jimmy Branly (drums, bongos, timbales).