By Joe Ross, Root Music Report
Pianist/composer Michael Eckroth and company create imaginative jazz by keeping their eyes, ears and hearts open to new ideas. Eckroth vision is for his music to be “lyrical, modern, and true to its Afro-Latin roots, but never purist in its approach.” Plena, a reference to the folkloric music of Peru, is Eckroth’s first full-length release since 2015 when he released Piano + Rhythm. Featured musicians include Alex “Apolo” Ayala (bass), Joel Mateo (drums), Mauricio Herrera (percussion), Peter Brainin (sax) and other special guests like John Fedchock (trombone), Brian Lynch (trumpet) and Carlos “Carly” Maldonado (percussion). Read more here.