Irregular

After dinner Friday night, I took a streetcar to Gallery 345 for the Canadian debut of jazz pianist Dánae Olano. The venue was almost full tonight. This young performer played a selection of Afro-Cuban compositions including several improvisations. She was joined by a few guests including Jane Bunnett and Hilario Durán.

The older pieces from Ignacio Cervantes and Ernesto Lecuona were quite revelatory: combining classical technique with the driving rhythm associated with Latin music. Olano's own work wasn't quite as dynamic and compelling, but she is just starting her career. Best of all were the improv pieces involving Bunnett, Duran, and Grupo Okan. Olano seemed to have a much lighter, whimsical touch for this, Duran brought clean, crisp notes, and Bunnett was fond of using harmonics and mic feedback on her flute solos. In a way, it was a waste of good dance music with all those butts firmly planted in their chair. Maybe we should have made our way to Lula Lounge for that portion of the evening.