music
Chicago, Barcelona Connections
by Greg Duncan ’98 :: New Origins Records :: Reviewed by Eric Sorensen
The Latin-themed recording is one of the great subgenres of jazz, going back at least as far as Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” and running through the likes of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Manteca” and the Getz/Gilberto collaboration that brought “Girl from Ipanema” to hi-fi consoles across the land. Greg Duncan is stepping up with his own contribution, marshaling an Illinois Arts Council grant and Kickstarter funding to bring us an exploration of flamenco borne from the Chicago-based trumpet and flugelhorn player’s years performing in Spain. Rhythm is king as the nine songs—four written by Duncan, and almost all arranged by him—incorporate five of the more common flamenco forms: rumba, tango, bulerías, tanguillos, and sevillana. The playing is superb, too, adventurous but discrete, making this record a whole body experience.