TRACKLIST
Side A
1. Reflexiones (Miguel Figueroa)
2. Looking For A Blues (Nilo Espinoza)
3. Summer Love (Alan Barnes)
Side B
1. Black Angel (Kenny Brown)
2. Siempre (Pancho Saenz)
3. Somos Nada (Nilo Espinoza)
4. Hard Work (John Handy)
DESCRIPTION
The only album ever recorded by Peruvian sax player Nilo Espinosa and his group, also known as the Nil’s Jazz Ensemble, remains not only as one of the truly grails for collectors of Latin-American jazz but also as an outstanding piece of music on its own.
After years unavailable, our reissue presents this 1976 album in its full glory, with remastered sound and original artwork, including the rare promo poster.
Pressed on 180g vinyl.
Once resettled in Lima, Peru, in 1974 after spending some time playing in a jazz quintet in Berlin, sax player Nilo Espinosa would put together the Nil’s Jazz Ensemble, a top-notch array of local talent consisting of Pancho Sáenz (trumpet), Miguel ‘Chino’ Figueroa (keyboards), Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Andrés Silva (drums and percussion), Jorge Montero, Richie Zellon and Ramón Stagnaro (guitars).
They recorded one single album that remains not only as one of the truly grails for collectors of Latin-American jazz but also as an outstanding piece of music on its own. The opening song “Reflexiones” is a mind-blowing jazz-funk number right up there with the very best of the genre, written by Black Sugar’s former member Miguel ‘Chino’ Figueroa, featuring a fantastic work on trumpet and rhodes.
The album also includes a cover of the rare groove classic “Hard Work” that could have easily sneaked into the funkiest side of the Prestige catalogue.
Following the success of this album, Espinosa would expand his band to a big band format and tour local theatres and clubs in Lima, where jazz music was a popular genre at the time.
Our reissue presents this 1976 album in its full glory, pressed on 180g vinyl with remastered sound and original artwork, including the rare promo poster.