Michael Eckroth Group, Human Geography on Marlbank!
AfroCuban and Puerto Rican steeped sounds from pianist and composer Michael Eckroth who hails from Phoenix, is known for his work with jazz guitar icon John Scofield and is the brother of singer/keyboardist Rachel Eckroth.
Human Geography lands three years on from Plena, a work that featured a generous sprinkling of personnel found here. Mapped around piano trios enhanced along the way by horns the title track is flavoured by guaguancó rumba-type rhythms as is 'Freedom in Precision.'
A Human Geography highlight for us is the Afro-Cuban influenced 'Kachina'. And we also were much drawn to the horns drenched treatment of Bobby Hutcherson's 'Little B’s Poem,' a piece that was on the vibes icon's 1966 issued Blue Note album Components covered within the last decade by über-classy guitarist Russell Malone on 2017's Time for the Dancers.
Other notable talking points include the lively up tempo congafied tribute to pianist Hilton Ruiz (1952-2006). Eckroth plays piano, Rhodes and keys on the album and with him - collective personnel - are trumpeters Matt Hilgenberg and Alex Norris, tenor saxist Peter Brainin, bassists Raul Reyes, Edward Perez and Alex 'Apolo' Ayala, drummer Joel Mateo plus percussionists Mauricio Herrera and Carlos Maldonado.
