Cornerstone is an alluring new album from NYC-based guitarist and composer Nico Moreno, featuring a guitar-led jazz sound with infused elements of pop/rock and Latin American rhythms. The release features a trio of notables in the NYC jazz scene: Colin Stranahan (drums), Michael Kanan (piano), and Matt Stavrakas (double bass).
“The Confessor’s Tongue” opens Cornerstone with an introspective, rainy-day setting; mellow guitar tones and pit-pattering percussion lead into a riveting piano sequence into the two-minute turn, fully engrossing. The ensuing “La Luz Verdadera” is another charmer, placing particularly enveloping emphasis on Stavrakas’ double bass work and its cohesive intermingling with lush guitars and Latin-inspired percussion. The opening two tracks firmly establish Cornerstone as a compelling jazz album with immersive, atmospheric appeal.
The album is abound with a number of highlights, ranging from the briskly magnetic “Mother Pelican” to the contemplative, slowly unfolding entrancement within “Song for Sonny.” The title track also excels in its balanced melding of bass, guitar, and percussion — maintaining a steady yet absorbing pace. Cornerstone is a fantastic jazz release from Nico Moreno, who continues to further a strong presence in the NYC jazz scene.
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“Cornerstone” is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Rainy Days and Late Night Drives.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
