BY BOBBY REED - DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (August 2014) Editor´s Pick
Alex Mercado Trio, Symbiosis
(Fonarte Latino)
2Pianist Alex Mercado is one of the finest jazz musicians that Mexico has produced. On his new trio album, he teams up with simpatico collaborators who are equal to his incredible talent. Bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez know each other’s styles extremely well because they’ve recorded and toured together in the New Gary Burton Quartet, and they’ve worked in the trio format with pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. Here, on Mercado’s Symbiosis, the rapport between all three musicians is deeply impressive. Like Colley, Mercado is a highly melodic player; and like Sanchez, the pianist is masterfully adept at shifting tempos and building drama over the course of a long tune. The result of these musicians’ telepathy is a richly cohesive program of 10 original Mercado compositions. The leader’s playing is characterized by fierce dynamics and a command of the entire keyboard, whether he’s coaxing gentle, delicate notes with his right hand or generating explosive propulsion with his left. From the shimmering pianism of the title track, to the whimsical flair of “What Lays Beyond,” to the melodic motifs of “Two Doors,” everything here is delivered with power and confidence. There’s no hint of wandering or meandering; this trio knows exactly where it’s going and precisely how to get there"
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BY BOBBY REED - DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (August 2014) Editor´s Pick
Alex Mercado Trio, Symbiosis
(Fonarte Latino)
2Pianist Alex Mercado is one of the finest jazz musicians that Mexico has produced. On his new trio album, he teams up with simpatico collaborators who are equal to his incredible talent. Bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez know each other’s styles extremely well because they’ve recorded and toured together in the New Gary Burton Quartet, and they’ve worked in the trio format with pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. Here, on Mercado’s Symbiosis, the rapport between all three musicians is deeply impressive. Like Colley, Mercado is a highly melodic player; and like Sanchez, the pianist is masterfully adept at shifting tempos and building drama over the course of a long tune. The result of these musicians’ telepathy is a richly cohesive program of 10 original Mercado compositions. The leader’s playing is characterized by fierce dynamics and a command of the entire keyboard, whether he’s coaxing gentle, delicate notes with his right hand or generating explosive propulsion with his left. From the shimmering pianism of the title track, to the whimsical flair of “What Lays Beyond,” to the melodic motifs of “Two Doors,” everything here is delivered with power and confidence. There’s no hint of wandering or meandering; this trio knows exactly where it’s going and precisely how to get there"
SCOTT YANOW - L.A JAZZ SCENE
Alex Mercado Trio
Symbiosis
(Fonarte)
"Alex Mercado is a major jazz pianist who was born and raised in Mexico. Symbiosis is his second CD as a leader, teaming him in New York with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez.
Mercado and his trio perform ten of his originals. His music is harmonically sophisticated, rhythmically intricate, and helps move the modern mainstream of jazz forward. While the influence of Bill Evans can sometimes be felt in the interplay between the musicians and there are brief touches of McCoy Tyner in places, much of the time his playing sounds quite original. Mercado uses his
virtuosity to serve the music (rather than the other way around), cooks quite hard on the uptempo pieces such as “Nothing Changes,” and is consistently creative even when he is melodic.
Scott Colley is an equal partner on many of these performances, taking a particularly impressive solo on “What Lays Beyond,” sometimes doubling the melody with Mercado, and always offering stimulating accompaniment. Antonio Sanchez keeps the music colorful and makes sure that it is never too safe.
Alex Mercado is a name to watch for. This excellent set is easily recommended and available from www.fonartelatino.com."
WONDERING SOUND
" Lively trio session from pianist Mercado, who has a solid line-up of bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez. Tunes that crackle with life, dynamic rhythms that can carry a tune on their back without missing a beat, and in possession of a certain elegance that comes through despite all the activity. A solid modern piano trio recording".
ANTONIO MALACARA - LA JORNADA
"Apart from the obvious and impeccable technique he showed in his first album The Watcher (2012, in Symbiosis the composer achieves to point out the foundations of a style of his own, such a distinctive voice as definitive and defining, but as flexible as jazz itself".
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