Confluencia

Sexteto Matiz (pronounced 'Matisse') plays a mixture of Latin styles. The material is drawn from Afro-Cuban son, salsa, Brazilian bossa nova and Mexican ranchera music. The group specializes in performing old songs new ways. The six musicians (Norma Arias, lead vocals, Dominic Cabrera, conga, Michael Crager, piano, Ayla Davila, bass, Jane Lenoir, flute, Nefatali Rosado, bong) bring out new colors in each style, seamlessly integrating traditional and modern sensibilities. 'La Negra Tomasa (Bilongo)', 'Al Vaiven de Mi Carreta', and 'En Casa de Pedro el Cojo' are classic compositions in the Cuban style called 'son'. Son began in the early 1900's in the countryside of eastern Cuba ('Oriente') and later moved to the dance clubs of Santiago de Cuba and Havana. It is a marvelous mlange of rhythms with African roots and melodies and harmonies from Spain. 'Esclavo y Amo' and 'La Historia de un Amor' are from the Mexican ranchera tradition, famous for it's soaring melodies and romantic lyrics. Here they are presented Afro-Cuban style, with a 'coro-pregon' section at the end. 'Triste', a bossa nova from Brasil, and 'Guantanamera', from Cuba, are given a Latin jazz treatment, bringing out a new sides of these famous classics. 'Caf' is a composition in the son montuno style from Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta band, which was at the vanguard of salsa in early 1960's New York. It's slow but driving rhythm underscore a lyrical melody and a charming story line in the lyrics. 'No Pienses Asi' is a bolero (ballad) from Cuba, with a beautiful, passionate melody. 'Nadie Como Tu' is a resetting of 'When I Fall in Love' in bolero style, with Spanish lyrics by lead singer Norma Arias.