Recalling the kind of brilliant & timeless jazz albums put out by imprints such as Impulse! and Atlantic in the '60s, The Moreira Project's 2nd CD, "Citizen of the World, Vol. 2" is that rare hybrid of world rhythms & deep jazz grooves that keeps jazz fresh & provocative. South African saxophonist and award-winning producer, Moreira Chonguiça, leads a solid African-centric ensemble in an 18-song collection that ranges from Pharoah Sanders-like world explorations to Latin-infused gems to straight-up jazz jams. With guests like fellow sax masters, Najee and Many Dibango, vocalist Jaco Maria, & hip hop artist Simba, all adding considerable musicality to the mix, tracks like "Umjita", "West South Side" & the ballad, "Blue Puzzle," with their haunting melodies & indelible performances, evoke the best of jazz traditions. Other tracks, like "Sambabenta" and "Ashanti," cast a wider net, incorporating world rhythms & tonalities in an intriguing fusion of musical inclusion. At over 70 minutes long, The Moreira Project's "Citizen of the World, Vol. 2" CD is replete with masterful solo turns and compelling improvisations for jazz fans the world over.
-Rice B. & the RadioIndy Reviewer Team
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