Cordova Reunion - Argentina Jazz (2006)

Córdoba Reunión is made of the meeting of four high profile jazz musicans from the European scene who share a common origin - the town of Cordoba in Argentina - and the same passion for Argentina jazz, to which they simply intend to turn the world into!!! To succeed in this friendly evangelization task, Córdoba Reunión has got an ultimate weapon: a unique talent to bring the house down! By crossing over improvised music with Argentina rythms (tango, zamba, chacarera, milonga, chaya) with a creativity, a musical quality and freedom of expression truely effervescent, those musicans have the power to immediately captivate any type of audience, far beyond the traditionnal community of jazz amateurs. If jazz connaisseurs are literally thrown by their virtuosity, no one can really stay unmoved by the vitality and spectrum of emotions this 'cuarteto' is capable to put across with such an outright talent and spontaneity. Welcome to the cheerful and magnificient Argentina jazzland!


In 1978, the young Cordobeses Di Giusto, Girotto, Buschini and Garaÿ were celebrating the goals of another child of the country -Mario Kempes - who were making Argentina the winner of the World Cup. A break in the middle of the worst time of political repression. Then, a few years later, those children of Cordoba got to move abroad. Destination: USA or Europe, France for the percussionist Minino Garaÿ, Italy for the sax player Javier Girotto. The latter has built a rich career made of multiple collaborations with musicians as prestigious as Enrico Rava or Roberto Gatto. He has now become in Italy the most widely acclaimed Argentinian musician as the leader of his own jazzband « Aires Tangos ». The meeting with the pianist Gerardo Di Giusto and the bass player Carlos Buschini makes an interesting demonstration of a composition work that holds a dialogue between jazz harmonies and the traditional music from the Cordoba Region (ie: Chacareras among others). In this context, especially impressive are the improvisations of outright lyricism of Javier Girotto, in genuine successor of the best Gato Barbieri and the refined and held-back mastering of Di Guisto. A Unique repertoire, shared among Buschini, Di Giusto and Girotto, performed with the highest intensity and emotion, with some references to melodies as mythical as the Carnavalito and, above all, an expressive sense of thematic construction. A very nice record, featuring Mercedes Sosa (on one title) and paying a compassionate tribute to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, the 'Danza de las Madres'. Francisco Cruz [from French] --Jazzman

The four Argentinian musicians of Córdoba Reunión, rich of the most various musical experiences and coming from the same region of Córdoba, have set up this jazz quartet in 1999. From the magic of this unique meeting and the help of the Swiss Italian Radio « Rete Due » is born their first album « Argentina Jazz ». Here comes a definitely up-to-date sharp cutting jazz where sheer moments of grace and restrained delicacy alternates with the feverish expression of passions deeply imprinted of melancoly. Here comes an atmosphere typically Argentinian although is doesn't particularly relate to Tango. From time to time, the alto sax player Javier Girotto drops some desperately declamatory and gasping phrasing that are not without reminding us of Gato Barbieri, the unmatched master. The highly subtle recalling the pianist Gerardo Di Giusto makes of « Carnavalito » in the « Ya Esta » title appears like an explicit tribute to the tenor of the Fenix period. Futhermore, the ample pianismo of Gerardo Di Giusto is somehow reminiscent of Mc Coy Tyner torrid exotism of the title « Sahara » from the « Atlantis » album. Hence, the interpretation comes out even more restrained and intimate in the compositions of Carlos Buschini and in the title « Marcari » written by Javier Girotto. In the third title - La Oncena -comes Mercedes Sosa's voice, guttural and direct, whose intonations go up in crescendo, and which is especially well supported here by the altogether original and thin color of Brizuela's guitar. [from Italian] --Muscia Jazz

Distance tends to change the way we look at things. The essential stands out more as and when details fades out. This is exactly what is happening with Córdoba Reunión who, in their first album, are paying a new visit to rythms and themes that are specific to the Argentine music. Argentina Jazz, the album title, only keeps of Argentine music what is essential, to then better raise it to a dimension that can relate to the Universal. If in their album one can trace back expressions of the traditional Argentine music, it is only go further beyond its natural horizon and explore from there new territories. Hence, the Zambas, Milongas, Huaynos and Chacareras rythms are making up a new jazzitic vocabulary that makes all the room necessary for improvisation. Crossing over styles is nevertheless a risky business that sometimes produces the best music - when the magic works - sometimes the worst, when it fails to escape from a pale imitation of worn out models. The excellence of interpretation, the quality of improvisation and solid arrangements allow Córdoba Reunión to easily avoid such a pitfall. Hence, the most mature album title is « La Oncena », the master piece of Edouardo Lagos. We have an interpretation here that stands out with some VIPs: Mercedes Sosa and her delightful guitarist Colacho Brizuela. A title that altogether demonstrates the superb work of the soprano sax player Javier Girotto. Their evocative power therefore probably comes out as the most distinctive character of this quartet. It is the case for instance with the first title -« Pajas Blancas » - reminiscent of « La Telesita », or of « Ya Esta », the « huayno » Javier Girotto is wonderfully helping himself out in taking inspiration from themes such as « Fuego en Animania » and « El humahuaqueno ». With this first album, what we are witnessing is a constant succession of new beginnings in which Argentine music reaches no less than its climax. This time, thanks to the work of four exceptional musicians. An exercice that indeed is not totally new in itself, but that nevertheless remains delightful when it reaches such a level of excellence. [from Spanish] --La Voz