Frontera Cero - Nada Que Declarar
By: Mark Runyon | Category: Album Archive | 07/22/05 | 12:32 AM
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 Grade: B |
Genre: Latin Jazz
Summary: Frontera Cero finds its pulse, creating a cultural expression unique and hard to pass up.
Jazz seems to continually mold itself into various shapes, taking on an assortment of faces, when translated by a musician. It's a rich musical heritage that is a bit of a mutt itself, sampling the spectrum from blues, ragtime, gospel and African tribal music to bring us what we now know as jazz. Is it any wonder that modern day musicians would be any different, melding influences from the world around them? The Spanish import, Frontera Cero introduces us to their light jazz-fusion album Nada Que Declarar, or Nothing to Declare for the non-Spanish speakers. It not only seems to mesh musical genres but also playfully shuffles its cultural foundations for a unique listening experience. |
Nada Que Declarar is a bit of a misnomer because there's always something to declare. This work seems to be saying "slow down and take it easy." It is very fluid in its compositions, and the musicians form a good synergy with one another. Frontera Cero is the work of two individuals, Julio Awad and Victor Gil. Awad is the arranger and composer, manning the piano bench while Gil sets the pace on the cello. A handful of guest musicians dot the landscape to flesh out certain tracks, but Awad and Gil form the heart and soul of the group. All of the tracks are instrumental save the last, "Negra Sombra," which invites the vocal talents of Maite Dono to represent a poem by Rosalia de Castro. The vocals are beautifully spirited and provide a nice change of pace, showing another side of Frontera Cero. "Agosto" also features vocal accents that almost seem to mirror tribal chants, drifting in from time to time.
The opening track "Chacarera Triple" escorts us in with swift strokes on the cello, creating a sense of urgency. Seconds later, pianos flow in like a steady stream cooling off these feverous impulses. The two seems to dance back and forth throughout the rest of the number creating an upbeat tone to launch into the album. Other tracks like "Lamento" focus more on the group's quieter voice. It is like the sun slowly descending over the rising tides, wrapping the day up in a perfect bow. You can almost hear the waves muffled in the background. A lot of this album possesses this very relaxed feel that would be at home on the beach. Not the bustling thoroughfares of spring break, but more the sparsely populated weeks when summer has surrendered its grip to fall.
Both musicians are quite accomplished in their craft. Julio Awad's piano work is really nice, plying more of the classical vein. It reflects shades of George Winston at times. Victor Gil's strings accentuate these pieces like high grade frames, hoisting them up for display. "Travesia" is a prime example of this where the strings bring the depth and the contours to the song.
At the closing note, Nada Que Declarar is a solid work by two very able musicians. It won't revolutionize the way you view jazz, but it will provide you with a laid back set of songs that create perfect soundscapes for that breezy Saturday afternoon tidying up the Spanish villa or just relaxing by the pool with a trashy novel. Its tropical flavor makes it a dish best served with a banana daiquiri complete with drink umbrella. Frontera Cero finds its pulse, creating a cultural expression unique and hard to pass up.
For more information on Frontera Cero, visit their web site (best viewed with Internet Explorer) where you can get additional CD info, artists bios, and listen to tracks off Nada Que Declarar.
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