Panoramic Personnel: Steve Cardenas, Guitar, Tony Malaby, Tenor Saxophone, Larry Grenadier, Bass, Kenny Wollesen, Drums. Tracks: Visa, Sights, Isso E Parra Dizer, Just Like I Pictured It, Walkup, Driel, Introspection, D. Marie, Salista.

Steve Cardenas
Panoramic

Panoramic is a dynamic new release by NYC guitarist Steve Cardenas. This album features a great ensemble dynamic, improvisations and interesting compositional vehicles for these musicians to express themselves on. Cardenas is a mature improviser who possesses a great guitar sound and is a master craftsman.

    Cardenas compositions are modern mainstream in nature. They include a variety of forms and meters, but despite the complicated nature of some of these tunes, these musicians express with a quality group sound. It makes you concentrate on the nature of groove and a dynamic interplay. Another words, they make the music sound easy, without force, without loosing an intense “swinging” style.

    I love Tony Mallaby and Cardenas blend. It is beautiful and captures my attention. Being a fan of musicians who play with warmth and centered pitch, this was a delight to listen to. The unisons are ever so perfect and they create such warmth and velvet tone.

    I’m also becoming a big fan of Larry Grenadier. I’ve heard him on a few different recording sessions now, and I’m impressed by his sense of groove, ensemble playing and over awareness of what the music needs. You’ll also like Kenny Wolleleson who plays the set to fit this group dynamic perfectly.

    Contrasting performances on a disc is very important to me. The compositions selected here, are a variety of tempo’s and feel. Visa, the opening track reminds one of Birds Latin Be-bop grooves. The second tune Sights, is a post modern composition that the group plays fluently and effortlessly through meter and harmonic changes.

    The Cd continues with these type of contrasts. I especially liked the straight eighth feel of Just Like a Picture. Cardenas plays beautiful guitar trio here, and shows more contrast to his composing and improvisational style. D. Marie is another straight eighth, but a ballad this time. Once again, a great sound with a beautiful expressive quality.

    But honestly, everything struck me as positive and musical performances throughout this disc. It is wonderful guitar performance with a great supporting cast in trio and quartet settings.
    This disc is released on the Fresh Sound/New Talent, distributed by www.freshsoundrecords.com. If you like beautiful swingin’ guitar Jazz, this is a disc for you.