Originally from the Dominican Republic, Alfredo Balcacer is now an educator and jazz guitarist. After working in many different ensembles, he has recorded his first album. And there's a lot to unpack.

Alfredo Balcacer The Suspended Sea (self-released)

For starters, he plays guitar. Most jazz guitarists end up somewhere in happy jazz territory (the less pejorative term is "smooth jazz", though I think that's not much nicer), but Balcacer goes a different way. He does lay a Latin percussive base to most of his compositions, but his guitar does not have the flat, almost alien sound that most jazz guitarists prefer. Rather, he puts reverb and a touch of distortion on his sound, and when he cuts in he sounds most like Frank Zappa.

Both in sound and thought, by the way. Balcacer isn't a traditionalist. These pieces are easy on the ears, as his ensemble is skilled and expressive and the Latin percussion lines are slinky and irresistible. But he takes chances, both in composition and performance. And when his guitar makes itself known, hoo boy, the house can shake.

The propulsive nature of these songs (even the most introspective ones don't dally) is exciting, and the lines he and his mates set forth and more than worth the effort to follow. This is one of those albums where ideas predominate, and those thoughts are expressed in many-splendored ways. A really wonderful set.

Jon Worley