For those not in the know, originally from Bogota, Colombia, flutist Daniel Pardo has graced recordings and performances by artists from a striking range of styles and genres – jazz, western classical music, rock, and traditions from across the globe.

He has toured or recorded with the likes of Jeff Coffin, Jake Shimabukuro, Bob Mintzer, and members of the iconic classic rock band Chicago, and has collaborated with Los Angeles-based producers K.C. Porter (Santana, Ricky Martin) and J.B. Eckl (Santana, En Vogue).

Despite his in-demand status in a variety of roles from studios to stages, Pardo has decided that now is the time to step into the spotlight. With the stunning Ese Momento (That Moment), an ideal title for seizing the day and embarking on a new chapter – the Houston-based Pardo fully reveals his gifts as a virtuoso flutist, a breathtaking conceptualist, and an expressive producer.

In order to fully display his range, melodicism and emotional imagination, Pardo decided on the bolero as the perfect vehicle. Due out November 8th, 2024, Ese Momento features gorgeous renditions of 11 classic boleros, along with a blazing version of Cuba piano legend Chucho Valdés’ “Bebo” that allows Pardo and the band to show off their Latin jazz chops.

The beloved songs are approached from a kaleidoscopic spectrum of perspectives, from the traditional to the orchestral to the unexpected.

1) Como Fué
2) Novia Mia
3) Volver
4) Ese Momento
5) Cuando Te Beso
6) Sabor A Mi
7) Bebo
8) La Gloria Eres Tú
9) Tres Palabras
10) Bésame Mucho
11) No Se Tú
12) Vida Loca

This beautifully crafted new recording opens on a track made famous by the iconic Cuban singer and bandleader Benny Moré, the resplendent Como Fué and then brings us the delicacy of José Antonio Méndez’s Novia Mia, the sumptuous Volver (itself inspired by Spanish singer Estrella Morente’s Flamenco twist on Carlos Gardel’s classic tango), the glistening gossamer of the title track Ese Momento (the moment when magic and love occur), before unveiling both the languishing beauty of Cuando Te Beso and the veritably cinematic Sabor A Mi.

Along next is the rhythmical Bebo and the alluring La Gloria Eres Tú and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the ornately glistening Tres Palabras, the atmospherical percussion of well-known Bésame Mucho, the album rounding out on the sweeping No Se Tú, coming to a close on the late night, smokey jazz club appeal of Vida Loca.

Ese Momento is the fruit of Pardo’s friendship and collaboration with the Spanish pianist and arranger Sergio Pamies, which dates back more than a decade. The two met while students at the University of North Texas and soon found themselves working together on projects for other artists – Pardo on the production side, Pamies as an arranger. While the two hailed from separate continents, they bonded over a number of shared experiences and influences – boleros among them.

“I was studying classical music and Sergio was there for jazz; he’s from Spain and I’m from Colombia,” Pardo says. “But we both grew up with our parents listening to this kind of music. Latin America’s greats of the time were artists like Armando Manzanero, José José and Juan Gabriel.”

The musicians that the pair assembled for Ese Momento reunite them with a number of classmates from their UNT days who have gone on to similar successes and now range around the world. In addition to the core recordings at Dallas’ Luminous Sound, contributions to the music were captured in Miami, Granada, Madrid, Gran Canaria and Prague.

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