Solo bass albums are not all that common, and for good reason. It takes an extraordinarily skilled, ambitious, and deeply compassionate player for the format to thrive. Add the stunning El Suelo Mío by Jorge Roeder to the short list of bass recitals worth revisiting again and again. I was hooked from the first notes of the title track, played with such exuberant passion that I couldn’t help but be moved. And he does it again and again, with his formidable technique and inventive soloing. Roeder’s original compositions are joined by an eclectic selection of pieces by Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro (the charming Chabuca Limeña), the famous Peruvian composer of the early 20th century Felipe Pinglo Alva (El Plebeyo, his best-known tune), Gene DePaul (I’ll Remember April), Ornette Coleman (an intense arco version of Lonely Woman) and the Brazilian songwriter and guitarist Noel Rosa (Silencio de um Minuto). Clearly, the Peruvian-born Roeder feels completely at home making music from such disparate sources. In the interests of variety and contrast, he’s programmed the CD wisely to keep things flowing. What can you say about a baker’s dozen of sublime performances except to congratulate the performer and urge everyone to find themselves a copy? Strongly recommended.
T-Town; Jorge Roeder (b); Brooklyn, NY, January 21-22, 2020; El Suelo Mío/ Chabuca Limeña/ Solo Juntos/ El Plebeyo/ Bounce/ I’ll Remember April/ Thing-Thing/ Patrona/ Santa Rosita/ Rambler/ Lonely Woman/ Silencio de um Minuto/ Les Lapin; 48:02. www.jorgeroeder.com
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