For those unaware, 4x GRAMMY® Winning Pianist and Composer Oscar Hernández released his new album Visión with Alma Libre on January 22nd, 2022 via Ovation Records.

Supported by his long-standing quintet Alma Libre, and augmented by special guests Joe Locke, Aaron Janik and Luisito Quintero, Hernández’s third release as a leader is a powerful document that reaffirms his standing as one of the most important voices in Latin music.

Indeed, this is the second release for Ovation Records, a new record label founded by Hernández in 2020.

Visión is a seminal work for the decorated artist, who described the experience of preparing and recording the project as an important creative outlet during the shutdown. “The creative process was in full force during that time,” reflects Hernández.

“Recording this album was a way to react positively, and to counteract the negative circumstances surrounding the pandemic.” And so, the prolific composer added ten new compositions to his already expansive and wide-ranging repertoire.

In May of this year, he and Alma Libre – his Los Angeles-based ensemble featuring the legendary saxophonist Justo Almario, drummer Jimmy Branly, bassist Oskar Cartaya, and percussionist Christian Moraga – recorded Visión, bringing these brilliant new tunes to life.

1. Vision
2. Ritmo Pa’ Ti
3. Doña Provi
4. Chick Forever
5. Make The Move
6. Tributo Al Son
7. Don’t Stop Now
8. Spring
9. So Believe It
10. Virtually Here

This infectiously melodic new album opens on the heartbeat of the album, the titular Vision and then bleeds seamlessly into the beautifully rhythmic Ritmo Pa’ Ti, the ornate piano gossamer, that leads the track at first, before it becomes more layered, of Doña Provi, the impassioned tribute to Chick Corea within Chick Forever, and then comes the upbeat NYC-esque vibed Make The Move.

Along next is the free flowing, artfully crafted melodies within Tributo al Son and that is in turn backed by the more straight forward, but no less mesmerizing, piano-jazz of Don’t Stop Now, the aptly-named Spring, the album rounding out on the breezy rhythms within So Believe It, coming to a close on the more forthright, yet heartwarmingly pleasant Virtually Here.

The title is of significance to Hernández. “When I was young, I was taught by my family that you need to have a vision to accomplish things. I believe that if you see it and you believe it, you can achieve it,” he says.

This uplifting title seemed a fitting response to the tenuous situation at the time the album was conceived.

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