JESUS MOLINA

SELAH

Dynamo Productions

Jesus Molina, keyboard/piano/vocals/soprano saxophone/multi-instrumentalist/composer; Guy Bernfeld, bass; Cain Daniel, drums; Hubert Laws, flute/piccolo; Noel Schajris, vocals; Lucia Micarelli, violin; Dave Mann, saxophone; Rock Bhoi, electric guitar; Kyle Zimmerman, tenor saxophone; Yturvides, trumpet; Carlos Guardela, percussion; Eric Byers, cello; Jeff Lorber, sound design; Bobby Colomby & Roni Kaspi, background vocals.

Jesus Molina is a 27-year-old force of nature and a Latin Grammy Cultural Function Award winner. Like many international students who attend and graduate from Berklee College of Music, he arrived from Columbia in South America to pursue his musical dream in the United States. His instrumental album is titled “Selah” which translates to “Praise.” There is a spiritual ambience in Molina’s music that entertains and hypnotizes the listener.

Molina has been inspired by piano icons like Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans.  However, on this release, you will hear his own, unique piano style on acoustic piano, keyboard, and also on the saxophone. Additionally, he offers us his composing talents.

The opening song is also the title tune. It’s in the fusion jazz mode, featuring a dynamic bass solo by Guy Bernfeld, with Jesus Molina racing into the stratosphere on keyboard.  The drums of Cain Daniel introduce track #2 called “Dear Fall.”  It features the great Hubert Laws on piccolo and flute.  However, it’s the piano solo of Jesus Molina that breathes fire and fierceness into this Latin arrangement.

A composition called “Soul Journey” follows.  It adds the smooth baritone voice of Noel Schajris, (an Argentinean/Mexican musician) who becomes an instrument in his own right. Schajris sings wordlessly, beautifully layering his harmonics, also engaging his tenor voice with rich expansion and improvised creativity. This song is lovely, with Molina’s piano parts dancing around in the background, like a million sparkling fireflies.  This composition is passion on steroids.

The great pianist, Billy Childs states, “I’m a huge fan of Jesus Molina, an incredible, amazing, piano virtuoso and a really cool composer.”

Perhaps Molina sums things up the best when he says, “All the music that comes out of me, that can’t be explained, is from God and my relationship to Him. I’m just His vessel.”

                                                                                                            Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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