All styles, all of them great

Miguel Zenon and Laurent Coq: "Rayuela" (Sunnyside Records). Puerto Rican saxophonist Zenon and French pianist Coq drew inspiration for "Rayuela" from Argentine writer Julio Cortazar's book of the same name, but this sublimely expressive recording achieves a poetry of its own. Zenon's searching, questing phrases on alto receive sometimes pensive, sometimes driving accompaniment from Coq, plus atmospheric contributions from Dana Leong on cello and trombone and Dan Weiss on percussion. A profound recording.

Howard Reich

December 9, 2012