If I had been given this album to play and asked what instrument was played by the band leader then I would have guessed violin, as that instrument is such an important voice to this quintet, I would never have guessed it was the bass. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pablo Lanouguere is an active musician and composer who holds a degree in Jazz Music from the Escuela de Musica Popular de Avellaneda in Buenos Aires, but for the last six years has been based in New York City. This is the debut release by his quintet Eclectico, which comprises Nick Danielson (violin), Federico Diaz (guitar), Emilio Teuba (piano) and Franco Pinna (drums). Of the 12 songs on offer, only one isn’t a Lanouguere original, and he effortlessly fuses jazz and Latin elements to create something quite special.
It is rare for him to allow himself to take the solo spot, often playing just behind the main melodic lead (which is often, although not always the violin). I was so taken with the violin that I undertook some background research on Danielson and discovered he is the assistant concertmaster of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, was a long-time member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and has been involved with multiple Grammy-winning albums. Here he is being allowed the opportunity to shine and he relishes in it, and the very first time I heard this I thought he was the band leader and that he was channelling Stéphane Grappelli. It is a really enjoyable album, full of strong compositions, led by Pablo from the back, and it is only by really listening that one gets to really comprehend just how much he is driving the melody lines. The result is a Latin jazz album which anyone into the genre, or who wants to hear a fiddle fly, really needs to get hold of.
Rating: 7/10
