Another significant addition to our albums of the year tally Vía de la Plata is so poised and beyond sheer virtuosity the spell is uncanny. Rippling with starpower guests in Ibrahim Maalouf, Gerardo Núñez and Anat Cohen the Madrid based Salamanca born Spaniard pianist García, who was taught at Berklee in Boston by Danilo Pérez, uses Salamanca's Vía de la Plata (''the silver way'') as inspiration. Maalouf is superb in all mournfulness for instance on 'The Silk Road'. Elizarde's opening riff on 'Spring of Life' is also a pleasure. García is a very positive player and there is a flowing involving trajectory to all the pieces.
Bassist Reinier Elizarde “El Negrón,” top left (photo: Uli Fild), pianist Daniel García, drummer Michael Olivera
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