Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada

Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada

El Niño y el Sol (Aire Sol) Aiming to haul himself from Brooklyn to Michoacan in a Mercedes Benz that chugs french-fry grease, Martin Perna of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra hit a snag when his eco-luxury vehicle broke down in Austin. In perfect improvisatory fashion, the saxophonist and Fela Kuti-devotee utilized the opportunity to spend two weeks in the home studio of Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma. Piecing together a collection of 13 instrumental tracks into a pseudo-soundtrack titled El Niño y el Sol, the pair conjures an ecumenical fusion of hip-hop, salsa, jazz, and funk that makes the concept of "global unification" a mere walk in the park, albeit a hallucinatory one. Lovely pedals of flute adorn bushes of sampled drum loops as rays of guitar sneak through the lavish scenery. Whether it's really George Porter conversing with Ray Barretto over there beyond the rhythm pond is an illusion best left undisturbed. While "Divinorum" bridges the expanse between Bobbi Humphrey's "Harlem River Drive" and Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth, "La Lucha Sigue ..." sets the mood à la Ferrante & Teicher serenading a tropical sun-shower. With "Justicia" and "Look Sharp" evoking the coastal savannas of the motherland, fleshy horns protrude through crowns of golden soul, gutbucket enough to make even James Brown jump back and kiss himself. Vibraphones, kalimbas, and congas rest in the shade of a solitary mangrove tree, waves of percussion easing into the buoyant salinity of an all-encompassing ocean. Yes, the euphoria is there, as is to be expected from such a grand adventure in sound.