Album Review: Luis Bonilla's 'I Talking Now'

I Talking Now!, the title of trombonist Luis Bonilla’s CD (NJCO - Planet Arts Recordings) is an understatement. If this is Bonilla talking, I can't imagine what his shouting sounds like.

To those familiar with Bonilla’s early recordings, Escucha! (Candid, 2000) and Pasos Gigantes (Candid, 1998), this album's intensity might surprise. In I Talking Now!, Bonilla's smoother Latin style gives way to much grittier expression.

Charging from the gate with the title track, Bonilla dunks the listener headfirst into a fast-paced frenzy of notes in the trombone and tenor saxophone, a motive that finds its rest only long enough to establish a theme. Each horn blasts through a solo, accompanied by an in-your-face rock beat in the drums. This is an apt preview of what's to come on the rest of the album: a high-octane mélange of styles ranging from rock to free jazz.

Bonilla's tunes move fluently in and out of steady pulses, though by the fourth track the listener may be tired of spacey rubato passages. John Riley deserves special mention for the dexterity of his drumming and the clarity of his ideas. His drums, spread wide in the mix, have a ubiquitous quality but don't distract from the overall effect of any tune.

Especially mature on this recording is the structure of Bonilla's pieces. Rarely will the listener encounter a typical head-solo-head form on this album. Rather, Bonilla chooses to open solo sections with traded choruses (“Uh, Uh, Uh...”) or melody-solo combinations (“Closer Still”). He sometimes adds new thematic material after the instrumental solos, giving the pieces a captivating landscape.

Coloring the entire album is Bonilla's unique sound on the trombone, a sound honed by his extensive experiences in big bands such as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Latin ensembles like those of Paquito d'Rivera and Willie Colon. Bright, edgy, and full of buzz, Bonilla's tone sticks out to say the least, and lacks some of the warmth of his previous albums. Technically, his fast passages can sound like an eloquent giant dealing with a speech impediment. The ideas and energy are there, but the instrument seems to get in the way. The result sacrifices definition for passion, a familiar dilemma for trombonists.

I would have put Bonilla's earlier solo recordings for Candid on any party mix, but I Talking Now! is a different kind of album. Its intensity level is too high for casual listening, and the wide breadth of styles represented keep the listener on her toes. I would recommend this recording for fans of jazz and Latin trombone playing, and those that are more deliberate and adventurous in their listening habits. This album showcases Bonilla's versatility in a way not seen on previous recordings, and is a welcome addition to his growing and varied discography.

Release Date:

August 3, 2009, on NJCO / Planet Arts Recordings

Personnel:

• Luis Bonilla - trombone
• Ivan Renta - tenor saxophone
• Arturo O'Farrill - piano
• Andy McKee - bass
• John Riley – drums

Track list:

1. I Talking Now
2. Uh Uh Uh
3. No Looking Back
4. Closer Still
5. Fifty Eight
6. Triumph
7. Luminiscence
8. Elis