Disk of 2021
Edmar Castaneda: album "Family", Jazzy hour, 5th of October 2021
Another musical superlative who comfortably placed the harp in the world of jazz, is the inspired, original and incredibly talented Edmar Castaneda whom we've also seen in a unique duet with Hiromi Uehara. His unmatched virtuosity is revealed once again on the album "Family", recorded as a trio together with the saxophone player Shlomi Cohen and the drummer Rodrigo Villalon. His style of playing rethinks the instrument by pinching the chords with his left hand leaving the right hand the freedom to support the themes and improvise. In theory it soundssimple, but what he does is truly spectacular. "Family" represents Castaneda's view of a world in which we can live like a united family. The one thing he could not foresee was the hand injury that kept him away from the stage and away from the instrument until February 2020 when, surprise, the pandemic hit. In the meantime, the musical pieces evolved into new forms with deeper meaning, including hope, faith and the joy of sharing time with your family. What started as a musical project, developed into something much more important. When the family is united, material shortages are much easier to get through and life can be cherished more vividly. Beyond the fabulously expressed music, " Family" is an album about closeness and about the candid reevaluation of the values that define us.
Berti Barbera
