The new album entitled Live in Chicago, is the fiery release from celebrated jazz drummer, composer, and educator Gustavo Cortiñas. This live recording captures the essence of Cortiñas’ musical journey, offering a glimpse into the transformative experiences that have shaped his unique sound.

Cortiñas is joined on this outing by his long-time sextet – a litany of Chicago-based jazz greats including trumpeter Drew Hansen, renowned saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and educator Artie Black, trombonist Matthew Davis, bassist and composer Kitt Lyles, and pianist Joaquin Garcia.

“I believe that it is a rite of passage for any jazz artist to put out a live record”, remarks Cortiñas. Over the history of the artform, live jazz albums have acted as the vehicle to capture some of the rawest, truest and most organically beautiful moments in music.

The mark of a truly great live release is that it moves past its initial intention as a mere document of a performance, and captures a musical moment that transcends time. Such is the case with Cortiñas’ Live in Chicago.

Disc 1:
1. Overture
2. Hanaki
3. Wish I Could Be There Now
4. La Balada Del León
5. Arete

This beautifully adventurous new recording opens on the glorious Overture and then we get the sublime medium tempo blues cut (from Snapshot) Hanaki, which is followed by the beautifully sculpted Wish I Could Be There Now (which is a 7/4 composition dedicated to a friend affected by violence in Mexico), the stunningly effective ballad La Balada Del León (a touching ballad dedicated to Cortiñas’ father), the first disc rounding out on a mesmerizing trumpet intro by Drew Hansen for a cut from the second album, the dutiful Arete.

Disc 2:
1. Dialectics of Freedom
2. Timing Is Everything
3. The Man of Flesh and Bone
4. La Ruta de Regreso a Guinea está en la Arcoiris
5. Pax Britannica

Along next on the second disc are the technical prowess and mastery of textures found within the heartbeat of Dialectics of Freedom and the deeply expressive Timing Is Everything, which are in turn backed by the veritably transformative The Man of Flesh and Bone, the album coming to a close on the rhythmic magnificence of an African-inspired piece in 12/8 La Ruta de Regreso a Guinea está en la Arcoiris and then the supportive ensemble piece Pax Britannica.

The concept of the album stems from Cortiñas’ desire to explore the magic of live performances and treat his original compositions as living standards. The live recordings were captured at Constellation in Chicago, IL, on the night of December 15th, 2022. They are raw and unedited, attempting to capture the spirit of the moment; a Snapshot, of a moment in time.

www.gustavocortinasmusic.com