CD Review: Gabriel Vicéns – Point in Time

CD Review: Gabriel Vicéns – Point in Time

It is hard to believe just by listening to Point in Time, that Gabriel Vicéns just graduated two years ago from the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico and this is his debut album. Vicéns shows in his music a maturity well beyond his age, all the compositions on the album are Vicéns originals. Even though he is a young musician, still in his early twenties, Vicéns already has plenty of experience playing with some of the best jazz musicians in Puerto Rico.

Vicéns could have gone the easy way recording an all jazz standards album or compositions to showcase his playing. But instead he chose to do an album with well constructed, outstanding and ingenious compositions, that leaves plenty of space for the talented young musicians in his group.

Vicéns and saxophonist Jonathan Suazo, demonstrate their good sense of melody and improvisational abilities all throughout the album and the rhythm section of Eduardo Zayas on piano, Matt Clohesy on bass, Vladimir Coronel on drums provide the perfect amount of intensity on tracks like, “El Comienzo”, “Point in Time”, and the more reflective piece “La Diferencia”.

There are some pleasant surprises on Vicéns debut album. One of the surprises is the participation of David Sánchez and Eddie Gómez, two jazz legends, in the piece “Cuadro”. Sánchez also adds his sharp and brilliant improvisations to the track “The World In My View”. Gómez provides his intense and inventive playing to “Beautiful Place”, “Frame of Mind” and “El Camino”.

An album with a sublime and relaxing sound, Point in Time is without a doubt a promising beginning in the career of this young talent.

Tracks: El Comienzo, Point In Time,Intro to La Diferencia, La Diferencia, Intro to Cuadro, Cuadro, Beautiful Place, Intro to Frame of Mind, Frame of Mind, Intro to El Camino, El Camino, The World In My View

Gabriel Vicéns: guitar, Jonathan Suazo: alto sax, Eduardo Zayas: piano, Matt Clohesy: bass, Vladimir Coronel: drums, David Sánchez: tenor sax (5, 6 and 12), Eddie Gómez: bass (6, 7, 9, 10 and 11)