Review of Mauricio J. Rodriguez’s “Luz”

Mauricio J. Rodriguez is a virtuoso Latin jazz bassist, currently the Composer-in-Residence for the Miami Symphony Orchestra. The music on Luz (self-released) is lush, detailed, and airy; the compositions are suggestive and inviting; and the players are disciplined and inspired.

Luz emphasizes textures, not flashy solos or filling the dance floor. Latin rhythms often take a submerged role from deep within the interplay of the musicians. “Danzón №1. Opus 1 con Cha” is the exception. It is the most conventional Latin track, appropriate for the Cuban national dance, with driving Cuban percussion and traditional Cuban solo styles from José Sardiñas on clarinet and Gabriel Cadenas on piano. Even so, “Danzón” is uncrowded, melodic, and romantic.

“Es el Amor” showcases the emotive (but never melodramatic) voice of Adrianna Foster, whose dreamy optimism counterpoints the worldly heartbreak of cellist José Pradas. “Tuesday” is a completely different up-tempo jazz composition, featuring Zachary Bornheimer’s elegant oboe-like sound on soprano. On “Wednesday,” Bornheimer has a rougher sound on tenor in a duet with pianist Cadenas. It would be interesting to see the score for “Wednesday” — there’s a classical piano introduction, some doubling of the bass with the pianist’s left hand, and some intriguing overtones in the dialogue between players over a difficult time signature.

Rodriguez is a maximalist bass player. He won’t play one note where 10 will do. On “My Funny Valentine,” Rodriguez overloads with chords and arpeggios, like a guitarist. The abrupt transition into a classical baroque duet between two overdubbed electric basses doesn’t help, and it has little to do with the song (or even, to my ear, the changes).

Luz is imaginative Latin jazz, and Rodriguez is a composer deserving of wider recognition. Fans of the Pat Metheny Group and Chick Corea’s larger ensembles will enjoy giving it a careful listen.

(Originally published on the Arts Fuse, Oct. 7, 2021)
https://artsfuse.org/238347/october-short-fuses-materia-critica/