For those unaware, by now the international Jazz community knows the story that Maqueque came out of a jam session at the Cohiba Hotel in Havana that introduced renowned Jazz musician Jane Bunnett with young women musicians and composers who had recently graduated from the Cuban conservatory.

Over ten years the band has created opportunities for composing and performing extraordinary Jazz that has taken this all female ensemble around the world and has expanded to include not only women players from Cuba, but also brilliant vocalist Joanna Majoko (from Zimbabwe) and has had musicians from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Spain and Lebanon.

The band has won a Juno Award, was nominated for a Grammy and annually tours Europe, Latin America, the US and Canada. Downbeat Mag picked this group as one of the Top Ten Touring Groups of 2019. NPR has featured the band in specials and they have done a Tiny Desk Concert.

On this brand new recording, their fourth as an ensemble, entitled PLAYING WITH FIRE (out March 10th, 2023 via Linus Entertainment), the evolution of this all female Cuban-based collective continues.

1. Human Race
2. Tempus Fugit
3. Sierra
4. Daniela’s Theme
5. A God Unknown
6. Turquoise/Turquesa
7. Bolero a Un Sueño
8. Jump Monk
9. Tomorrow
10. Playing with Fire

This radiantly euphoric and most assuredly harmonious new recording opens on the pulsating beats and rhythms within Human Race and their simply incredible re-imagining of Bud Powell’s Tempus Fugit (featuring vocals by Joanna Majoko) and they are backed by the contemporary jazz-hued, albeit with lines of edgy guitar, Sierra, the luxuriously free flowing Daniela’s Theme, and then comes the veritably spiritual A God Unknown.

Along next by the Juno-winning, Grammy-nominated ensemble is one of my own personal favorites, the drum-led, sax and scat vocals of Turquoise/Turquesa and the bountiful Bolero a Un Sueño and they are in turn followed by another re-imagining, this time of a most joyously arranged Charles Mingus cut, Jump Monk, the recording rounding out on the English-sung, flute and guitar-imbued Tomorrow, coming to a close on the rock-channeled Playing with Fire.

The album marks the debut of 19-year-old violinist Daniela Olano, sister of the band’s co-founder and pianist, Danae Olano. Playing With Fire is also the first Maqueque album to fully feature vocalist Joanna Majoko. The band is rounded out by drummer Yissy Garcia, bassist Tailin Marrero and percussionist Mary Paz.

Playing With Fire also features guitarist Donna Grantis, who’s best known for her performances in Prince’s band 3RDEYEGIRL in the 2010s. Grantis performs on three pieces: A God Unknown, A Human Race and Sierra.

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