Carlos Falanga - Quasar (2016)

Barcelona-based Argentine drummer Carlos Falanga has assembled a skilled band of little-known (in the US, anyway) players for his second album as a leader, Quasar. (Buy it from Amazon.) The ensemble includes tenor saxophonist Cesar Joaniquet, pianist Marco Mezquida, Jaume Llombart on Fender Rhodes and synth, guitarist Jordi Matas, and bassist Marko Lohikari. It's his debut for the Fresh Sound New Talent label, and follows up 2015's Gran Coral. That album, released on UnderPool, also featured Mezquida on piano and synths and Matas on guitar, while Llombart played electric bass.
The tone of Quasar is set by its first piece, "Kein Angst." The dominant instrument is Matas's guitar; Joaniquet's saxophone is present solely to sing the melody, which is a simple, rockish line with no real harmonic sophistication. The guitar solo is an extrapolation of the melody, with plenty of bluesy sting but a relatively conservative, linear structure. Ultimately, the piece is more of an intro than a full composition, and it ends quickly-like many of the tracks here, it's only about three minutes long. (The longest of the 12 tracks on Quasar is "The Duellist," which runs 5:09. The shortest is "Quasar #2," the album's coda; it lasts a mere 1:05.)
The fact that the tunes on Quasar are so short is an advantage, rather than a weakness. Each piece makes a direct statement, explores its core idea quickly and efficiently, then gets out of the way so the next one can begin. ...This group has a strong collective identity, and Quasar is a very enjoyable effort, well worth your attention. --Phil Freeman