Curtis Brothers Quartet

The fiery Latin Jazz septet Insight made a rare New York appearance at the Loisaida's Rockwood Music Hall (Dec. 1st) to play music from their critically acclaimed new CD A Genesis. Co-led by Zaccai and Luques Curtis, on piano and bass respectively, the group exhibited one of the most exciting sounds on the scene today, distinguished by tightly-played serpentine arrangements that melded memorable melodies, sophisticated harmonies and a dazzling array of AfroCarribean rhythms. Opening with a new piece, "Justice began with a warm solo bass recital which gradually built in intensity as the piano introduced a pretty optimistic melody and the percussive interplay of drummer John Davis and conguero Reinaldo De Jesus set down the incendiary rhythm. By the time the riffing horn section of trumpeter Philip Bizack, altoist Chris Allen and tenor saxophonist Frank Kozyra joined in, the house was ablaze with excitement. Four songs from the group's album clearly displayed the distinguished composing and arranging abilities of Zaccai, particularly the beautifully sanguine "Necessity and the dramatic "Story In Three . An original arrangement of "The Panamanian Murga and the dedication "Hilton's Rumba demonstrated the pianist's inventive use of traditional rhythms, allowing the group's stellar soloists to show off their impressive chops. On the final number, "Descarga , several players from the audience joined in for an electrifying finish.

~ Russ Musto - All About Jazz

Check out the new review in Downbeat magazine in the April issue 2010. A 4 star review by Michael Jackson begins with "I like these guys and concur with the passionately intense essay printed in the CD gatefold supporting the lofty titly to this collection of (primarily) originals, successfully blending classical, Latin and bebop influences."...pick up a copy to read more! - Downbeat

"Fearlessness is a great quality in an improvising musician that can lead to the creation of an innovative and inspiring artist. Jazz requires personal growth from an artist over the course of time, and reaching that goal demands a constant stream of risk taking. Musicians need to fearlessly grasp the opportunity to take risks, but they must decide which risks will push them in the right direction. A musician can be absolutely fearless, taking every available risk, but in most cases, this simply seems wild and reckless. They attack the music aimlessly without a foundation, skipping serious background work in favor of blind ambition. A true state of fearlessness in jazz comes from a confident attitude built upon years of training, technical ability, and an in-depth stylistic knowledge. Musicianship and practiced technique allow a musician to execute the intricacies of their stylistic insights effortlessly. As these stylistic elements become a natural extension of their artistic identity, they can fearlessly explore the outer limits of their style. They understand the detailed inner workings of the tradition and they’ve internalized its core components; as they explore, they will take intelligent risks. They understand how to push the boundaries and explore new ideas while paying respects to innovations of the past. Their fearlessness will result in stylistic growth and exciting innovations instead of disrespect and degradation. Pianist Zaccai Curtis and bassist Luques Curtis lead their quartet on a fearless journey through modern Latin Jazz concepts on Blood • Spirit • Land • Water • Freedom, making smart inroads into new stylistic directions..."

Article continues... click on link.
- ALL ABOUT JAZZ: Latin Jazz Corner