Martin Bejerano - Potential Energy (2013)

On Potential Energy, the much-anticipated follow-up to his acclaimed debut recording Evolution/Revolution (2007), pianist Martin Bejerano once again displays the instrumental virtuosity, improvisational versatility, intricate rhythmic concepts and the lyricism and musicality that have attracted a global following. Anchored by the 3-part “Potential Energy Suite,” written after Bejerano was awarded a New Jazz Works composition and ensemble development grant from Chamber Music America in 2010, the new CD features the pianist’s working trio he formed in 2007 with bassist Edward Perez and drummer Ludwig Afonso and, on four tracks, soprano saxophonist Mark Small, a veteran of singer Michael Bublé’s band with whom Bejerano has often collaborated since the two moved to NewYork in 2000.

“I’ve been working on my writing a lot the past few years and wanted this album to be more about compositions than piano ‘chops’ which is one reason I expanded the group to include sax,” Bejerano explains. “I was interested in and challenged by the idea of creating a big powerful sound out of a relatively small group and the suite serves as a jumping off point for the entire project and is complemented by the energy of the other tracks.” The trio's performance of the suite was recently featured on NPR's nationally syndicated show "Jazz Set with Dee Dee Bridgewater", featuring the New York City premiere of the work at Symphony Space.

In addition to his work as a leader, Bejerano is a veteran sideman of the New York jazz scene, and has been a member of the quartets of drummer Roy Haynes and guitarist Russell Malone with whom he has toured internationally and recorded for over a decade. He has also recorded and/or performed with Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Ignacio Berroa, Lonnie Plaxico, Bryan Lynch, Adam Nussbaum, Arturo Sandoval, the Mingus Big Band and Marcus Strickland, among others. Bejerano currently heads the jazz piano department at the University of Miami.

Tracklist:

1. Unique New York
2. B. Radley
3. No Apologies
4. Your Wildest Dreams
5. Alex's Place
6. River's Edge
7. Potential Energy
8. Transformation
9. Kinetic