Antidote
is a completely forward-thinking album, yet its roots date to the 1960s, near the beginning of his career when he played in the bands of
Mongo Santamaria
and
Willie Bobo
. During this period, he encountered the great Latin bandleaders of the era including
Machito
,
Tito Puente
Ray Barretto
, and
Eddie Palmieri
. In 1972, he penned the iconic composition "Spain," inspired by
Joaquin Rodrigo
's
Concierto de Aranjuez
. In 1976,
Corea
issued his milestone
My Spanish Heart
, that married fusion to Latin music. In 1982, he delivered another landmark with the Latin-tinged offering
Touchstone
, which featured flamenco master
Paco De Lucia
, and in 1990,
played on his
Zyryab
. The
Spanish Heart Band
is anchored by bassist
Carlitos del Puerto
, drummer
Marcus Gilmore
, and percussionist
Luisito Quintero
. Frontline players include nuevo flamenco/jazz guitarist
Nino Josele
, flutist and saxophonist
Jorge Pardo
(a longtime member of
de Lucia
's group), trumpeter
Michael Rodriguez
, and trombonist
Steve Davis
. There are also three guest vocalists: Panamanian salsero
Ruben Blades
, Brazilian singer/songwriter
Maria Bianca
, who delivers an elegant read of
Tom Jobim
's "Desafinado," and
's life partner,
Gayle Moran Corea
(who sings the entire choir part on "My Spanish Heart").
The material on
includes work from the pianist's back catalog, a classical piece, and new compositions. The opening title was penned for
Blades
, who delivers it with class, conviction, and elegance. It's a meld of salsa and flamenco with
's piano, brass, and spiky percussion leading the singer.
Josele
nails a tight, fluid solo, followed by synth and then sharp, polyrhythmic piano montunos underscored by a smoking trombone break. The revisioned "Duende" (originally from
) is languid, ushered in by dark minor chords and shakers and spiraling along a newly harmonized melody line. Another
number, "The Yellow Nimbus," is in two parts with shining interplay between the pianist, percussionist, and guitarist before
Pardo
's moaning flute solo transports the listener to another time and place.
appears again on a reworked "My Spanish Heart," with
on acoustic and electric keyboards, percussion, a driving bassline, and a trap kit. "Armando's Rumba," also from
, is recontextualized with a post-bop horn chart in a piano-driven fusion of salsa and flamenco, kissed by emotive trumpet and guitar breaks. The other covers include
De Lucia
's "Zyryab," with glorious flute and piano interplay.
Igor Stravinsky
's "Pas De Deux" features an excavated harmony that joins it to the album's material. Closer "Admiration" was written for this band; it's performed with a lithe Latin jazz groove and highlights
's flute,
Quintero
's syncopated palmas (handclaps),
's sweeping guitar, and guest flamenco dancer
Nino de los Reyes
.
has been on a near-prolific roll over the past decade, but
, his 99th album, stands with the finest recordings in his entire career. ~ Thom Jurek