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Gabriel Riesco Reviewed Today at Jazz Chicago

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GR Project Sculptures in Time (WUC Records)



Eduardo Chillida was a highly acclaimed sculptor who built massive abstract structures that suggest movement through the use of form and space. Guitarist Gabriel Riesco used Chillada's work as the inspiration for his Sculptures in Time. A former student at the Royal Academy of Music in London and Berklee graduate, Riesco also spent several years in Miami and toured with the Miami Dade Big Band. Now settled in NYC, Riesco has put together an outstanding group, including pianist Ray Assaf, saxophonist Nir Naaman, bassist Chris Smith and drummer Colin Stranahan to perform his melodic, yet challenging music. Using a unique fingerpicking playing style - he uses no pick and no fingernails - Riesco creates a warm, yet vigorous sound. He says his compositions explore opposite concepts such as tension and release, beauty and power, sound and silence, and indeed these pieces do fit his description. Songs like the opening “Seul B" shift from quiet reflection to hard-charging on a dime and this crack band navigates through the complex changes with confidence and verve. “Chillida" takes a perfect relaxed pace with moments of space and plenty of opportunities for the players to shine - here it is Assaf who takes a strong solo turn, while drummer Stranahan adds a compellingly subdued drum solo. “Ging Gong" continues this mid-tempo direction, with both Riesco and saxman Naaman excelling at this peaceful pace. But Naaman really impresses on the 10:29 “Ol For" - which picks up the energy and tempo and cuts the reed player loose. But then the song suddenly mutates and becomes slow and clear as a quiet stream with twinkling piano and a languid guitar solo that slowly builds to a climax. Another interesting usage of contrasts in an album full of them. “Airnara" is a fairly straightforward ballad, but with a bitter-sweetness to it, while “Simba's Samba" lives up to its name - combining a samba beat with African flavor - which continues on “Africa." The beautiful “Todo Claro" ends this album of motion and space on a quiet and satisfying note .

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