''Akokan'' is the sixth studio album by Cuban jazz pianist

Roberto Fonseca Roberto Fonseca (born 29 March 1975) is a Cuban jazz pianist. From an early age, Fonseca was surrounded by music: his father was drum player Roberto Fonseca, Sr, his mother, Mercedes Cortes Alfaro, a professional singer (she sings on her son ...

. It was released in 2009 by

Enja Records Enja Records is a German jazz record company and label based in Munich which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971. The label's first release was by Mal Waldron, and early releases included European and Jap ...

. The album's title means "from the heart" in the

Yoruba language Yoruba (, ; Yor. '; Ajami script, Ajami: ) is a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in South West (Nigeria), Southwestern Middle Belt, and Central Nigeria. It is spoken by the Ethnic group, ethnic Yoruba people. The number of Yoruba speake ...

. Recorded in 2008 in the EGREM studio in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, it is a tribute to Rubén González and

Ibrahim Ferrer Ibrahim Ferrer (February 20, 1927 – August 6, 2005) was a Cuban singer who played with Los Bocucos for nearly forty years. He also performed with Conjunto Sorpresa, Chepín y su Orquesta Oriental and Mario Patterson. After his retirement in ...

. The album was well received by critics.

Background and production

"Akokan" is

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

for "from the heart". Recording took place in late 2008 at the

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

's EGREM studio.

Overview

Like ''Zamazu'', this album begins with a short ritual recitation by Fonseca's mother, Mercedes Cortes Alfaro. The pervading influence of South Africa's

Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934 and formerly known as Dollar Brand) is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cap ...

is apparent on both "Lo Que Me Hace Vivir" and "La Flor Que No Cuidé," while "Cuando Uno Crece" is clearly dedicated to Rubén González. On "Lo Que Me Hace Vivir", Fonseca explores a "bass line exploration vamp that accompanies right-hand runs, defining his thoughts as he emerges from the dense clusters of notes." Fonseca dedicates the dreamy ballad "Como En Las Películas" (Like in the Movies) to the music of France, and claims that "Bulgarian" was inspired by that country. Even so, the combination of Fonseca's piano, the complex time signatures and

Javier Zalba Javier may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Javier, in video game '' Advance Wars: Dual Strike'' * Javier Rios, a character in the Monsters, Inc. franchise. * ''Javier'' (album), a 2003 album by the American singer Javier Colon, known ...

's eastern-inflected clarinet on this piece suggest Turkey's Ayşe Tüntüncü Trio. The contrarily titled "Lento Y Despacio" (Slow and slowly) is a stop-start percussive jam, similar in style to

Aron Ottignon Aron may refer to: Characters *Aron (comics), from the Marvel Universe comic ''Aron! HyperSpace Boy!'' *Aron (Pokémon), in the ''Pokémon'' franchise *East of Eden (novel)#Characters, Aron Trask, from John Steinbeck's novel ''East of Eden'' *Á ...

. The BBC considers the most striking piece to be "Drume Negrita", describing it as "a cool, relaxed vibe and features some lovely sax work by Zalba." Cape Verdean singer

Mayra Andrade Mayra Andrade (born 13 February 1985) is a Cape Verdean singer who lives and records in Lisbon, Portugal. Background Andrade was born in Havana, Cuba, to parents from Cape Verde, and she and her family returned to Cape Verde a few days after ...

sings on "Siete Potencias" (Bu Kantu).

Reception

BBC Music BBC Music is responsible for the music played across the BBC. The current director of music is Bob Shennan, who is also the controller of BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, and the BBC Asian Network. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio o ...

cites it as a "wide-ranging and accomplished album", similar to '' Zamazu'', but slightly maturer and more subdued. Raul d'Gama Rose of ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'' said that his music on the album "reflects a singular voice, awash with deep emotions that emerge from childlike sentimentality to that of a questioning adult mind. Solos are deeply thoughtful, almost ponderous, with ideas that flow slowly from phrases that ascend like eternal questions, and then descend rich in possibility and the musical avenues he pursues with muscular technicality and textural elegance. He carries with him the tradition of Peruchin and Emiliano Santiago ic melded indelibly with the jazz idioms of the great

Frank Emilio Flynn Francisco Emilio Flynn Rodríguez (April 13, 1921 – August 23, 2001), better known as Frank Emilio Flynn, was a renowned Cuban pianist. Despite being blind, he was a skilled and versatile pianist who mastered many forms of Cuban music, from danz ...

. Still, when he annunciates a phrase, idea or dazzling run, it is all Roberto Fonseca."

Robin Denselow Robin Denselow is a British writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Education Denselow was educated at Leighton Park School, a boys' Quaker boarding independent school (now co-educational) in Reading, Berkshire, followed by New College, Oxford, wher ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' described ''Akokan'' as " classy set, though he seems to be cramming in as many influences as he can."

Track listing

Personnel

Source: * Piano and vocals: Roberto Fonseca * Clarinet, flute, saxophone and baritone: Javier Zalba * Bass: Omar Gonzalez * Drums: Ramsés Rodriguez * Percussion: Joel Hierrezuelo * Vocals: Mayra Andrade * Vocals and guitar: Raul Midon

References

:''This article incorporate
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External links

* {{Authority control 2009 albums Latin jazz albums by Cuban artists