(MCG Jazz)

Revered reedman and composer Paquito D’Rivera’s fuses Latin jazz with classical feel for a sound and album that is engaging and beautiful. Panamericana Suite derives from a commissioned piece that D’Rivera created for Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2000. The project feels both epic and intimate at times and features a multi-national ocrchestra of talent that add brilliant colors to the music. Among those featured on the recording are trumpeter Diego Urcola, Andy Narell on the steel pans, Dave Samuels on vibes and Alon Yavnai on piano. The voice of Puerto Rico-born soprano Brenda Feliciano is stunning and beautifully accents the colorful array of the production.