By Tom Ineck

A classical pianist with an eclectic interest in world music and Latin dance, Roger Davidson brings off this collection of boleros and rumbas with aplomb and sufficient authenticity to silence all doubters.

It certainly helps that Davidson has surrounded himself with superb musicians, including drummer Ignacio Berroa and bassist David Finck, in addition to flutist Marco Granados, guitarist Francisco Navarro, trumpeter Kenny Rampton and percussionist Pernell Suturnino. Together, they create the irresistible rhythmic drive and melodic romanticism inherent in these Latin song forms.

Recorded like a jazz album rather than a classical session, the mood is relaxed and the arrangements are uncomplicated, giving the musicians plenty of space to express themselves. For example, Navarro delivers a stunning guitar solo on the bolero “Somos Novios,” by the famous bolero composer Armando Manzanero. “La Gloria Eres Tu,” by Jose Antonio Mendez, has the muted trumpet passing the melody to the flute, then to Davidson at the piano. The flute and guitar improvise the introduction to “Mi Amor.”

Osvaldo Farres’ “Tres Palabras (Three Words)” was a rare hit for the bolero genre back in 1946, when the English version, retitled “Without You,” with lyrics by Ray Gilbert, was sung by Andy Russell in the animated film called “Make Mine Music.” Here it is accelerated to a rumba tempo, getting the respectful treatment with Davidson stating the theme, followed by an open trumpet passage and a stately piano solo.   

Another classic of the genre is “Mi Dolor,” a tango written in 1931 by Carlos Marcucci. Here it is transformed into an intoxicating bolero for piano and guitar. Both bassist Finck and trumpeter Rampton (on muted horn) take exhilarating solos on the uptempo “Rumba Feliz,” with Rampton delivering an especially dazzling statement before Davidson wraps it up with a nice piano solo.

Davidson owes melodic and stylistic allegiance to Bill Evans, expressed here in his version of Armando Manzanero’s “Esta Tarde Vi Llover,” which Evans recorded in its American version, “Yesterday I Heard the Rain.”

Davidson himself penned nine of the 14 tunes here, proving his affinity for the rumba and bolero. The similar song forms provide the perfect vehicles for his lyrical keyboard style.