Lawson Rollins – Espirito (2010) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Lawson Rollins – Espirito (2010)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:06:22 minutes | 1,38 GB | Genre: Jazz, World
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Infinita Records

Espirito is a suite that extends and expands the vision of Lawson Rollins’ critically-acclaimed debut solo release Infinita with thirteen compositions that delve deep into the roots of world music. Espirito’s wide-ranging musical palette spans continents and cultures without losing its bedrock groove or playful sense of adventure.

Rollins reunites with Persian-American musician and producer Shahin Shahida (of Shahin & Sepehr) and multi-platinum producer Dominic Camardella (Flora Purim, 3rd Force, Ottmar Liebert) to craft an epic World Music odyssey that reaches across cultures and musical traditions. The cast includes iconic Brazilian singer Flora Purim, legendary percussionist Airto Moreira, Iranian kamancheh master Kayhan Kalhor, and Grammy winners Charlie Bisharat on violin as well as Cuban drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.

On his splendidly exotic, infectiously melodic, and grooving second recording since his days as part of the popular flamenco duo Young & Rollins, the charming and charismatic guitarist goes on another inviting journey full of all the exciting rhythmic possibilities the world offers – high energy and supercharged at times, balanced nicely by sensual flows here and there. He’s holding his trademark acoustic guitar on the CD cover, but mixes up that vibe with sharp, Santana-like electric edges on tracks like the searing midtempo ballad “Blue Mountain Bolero,” which also features Charlie Bisharat’s gleefully dancing violin. The goal (easily achieved) seems to be a literal travelogue, as Rollins fully captures the stunning exotica and indigenous vibes of styles and locales captured by track titles like “Return to Rio” (a graceful, low-key samba rendered even more authentic by the presence of Airto Moreira and Flora Purim), “Havana Heat” (simmering with the guitar duality provided by project producer Shahin Shahida on electric and slide guitar), “Santa Lucia Waltz” (dance-romance, anyone?), and “Cape Town Sky.” This extraordinary musical trip wraps with a dramatic set called “The Caravan Trilogy,” which features a contemplative “Migration” followed by a meditational, easy-rolling side trip to “Shadowland” and trippy, rock-edged emergence “Into the Light.” It seems almost superfluous to say, but this nonstop engaging festival on disc is overloaded with the glorious spirit its title refers to.

Tracklist:
01. Lawson Rollins – Rumba Del Sol (04:32)
02. Lawson Rollins – Moonlight Samba (05:37)
03. Lawson Rollins – Havana Heat (04:15)
04. Lawson Rollins – Cafe La Martinique (06:08)
05. Lawson Rollins – Return to Rio (04:48)
06. Lawson Rollins – Blue Mountain Bolero (04:36)
07. Lawson Rollins – Santa Lucia Waltz (04:30)
08. Lawson Rollins – Espirito (05:44)
09. Lawson Rollins – Cape Town Sky (06:04)
10. Lawson Rollins – Footprints (02:25)
11. Lawson Rollins – Migration (06:45)
12. Lawson Rollins – Shadowland (06:34)
13. Lawson Rollins – Into the Light (04:18)

Personnel:
Lawson Rollins – guitar
Flora Purim – vocals
Airto Moreira – percussion
Kayhan Kalhor – kamancheh
Charlie Bisharat – violin
Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez – drums

Download: