Nil’s Jazz Ensemble “Nil’s Jazz Ensemble” on Mag

Nil is of course our man Nino Espinosa (Bossa 70), who handles tenor, alto, soprano and flute with a particularly Peruvian aplomb. Pancho Saenz is on trumpet & Flugelhorn (just like Ian Carr!), Miguel “Chino” Figueroa (Black Sugar!) lays down heavy electric piano, Clavinet, and Melotron, Richie Zellon slings electric git, Oscar Stagnaro on bass, bro Ramon Stagnaro on rhythm git, and Andres Silva murdering the drums. Interestingly, this is both His and Their only release, except for a few modern RE singles on Vampi Soul. Which is a shame, because this album rules, a slick mix of fusion-y Lima City Pop, straight jazz, latin soul, and funky improv jams. Yeah, I think this is exactly what the title Rare Groove was coined for. Espinosa apparently spent some time on the Berlin circuit, but I can’t really hear it in his playing, in fact, if anything it sounds like he’s got the Anti-Berlin vibe on full. Anyway, this is some serious grooving top action that has no intention of re-wiring jazz, just getting you on your feet and swaying out of time to the beat. Oh yea.