Lunar Octet - Convergence (2021)

Lunar Octet is back with a potent collection of originals inspired by mambo, samba, funk, Afrobeat and jazz! RED HOT!!

...inspired by such wide-ranging influences as mambo, samba, funk, Afrobeat and jazz on Convergence, the title itself suggests a confluence of rhythms and styles, and that is precisely what this band of multi-directional musicians has been doing for 36 years.

From the percolating salsa groove of the infectious opener, ''Norm's Nambo,'' to the swinging big band flavored chart, ''Toote Suite,'' the Brazilian music influenced ''Mambossa,'' the rhythmically charged ''Subway Tension'', and the entrancing Afrobeat numbers ''Dancin' in the Doghouse'' and ''Heart of Congatar,'' the Lunar Octet presents a compelling world view of sound. Add the churning ''Samba Diabolico,'' the buoyantly swinging ''Crusin''' (think Neal Hefti arrangements for the mid '50s Count Basie band), the alluring tango ''Until I Find Words'' (an clarinet feature) and the rollicking, Brazilian flavored batucada ''Samba Over Easy'' (reminiscent of Airto Moreira's ''Tombo in 7/4''), and you've got a veritable United Nations of sound that you can also dance to.

Originally formed in 1984 as the Afrobeat flavored Lunar Glee Club, the group morphed into the Lunar Octet in the '90s and began taking on the influences of samba and jazz through the compositions and arranging of alto saxophonist and principal composer Steve Hiltner. The New York City-born Kaufman absorbed music in the Big Apple before his family moved to Puerto Rico. Through his mentor Norman Shobey, Kaufman began studying conga and later widened his repertoire with a year abroad in Israel, where he soaked up Middle Eastern music. In addition to Kaufman and Hiltner, other founding members of the band include drummer Jon Krosnick, tenor saxophonist Paul VornHagen, trumpeter Brandon Cooper and guitarist Sam Clark. Rounding out the Lunar Octet are young piano sensation Keaton Royer, bassist Jeff Dalton and percussionist Olman Piedra.