Emaginario - Interlude of the Duende (Ropeadope)

Guitarist Ethan Margolis, who uses the nome-de-axe Emaginario, grew up playing punk rock, but has since expanded his stylistic wanderings to include folk musics from around the world. For Interlude of the Duende, he recruits a pair of jazz heavyweights – bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland – for a ferociously energetic blend of flamenco, Romani folk, and jazz, with a particular emphasis on the latter. With one listen to the appropriately-titled “Beginning With a Groove,” it’s clear that Margolis’ skill is not to be underestimated – his dizzying runs and precision fretting would be the envy of guitar teachers, let alone students. But he’s no soulless technician – his finesse is equalled by his sheer musicality. The combo of performing expertise and melodic feel of “Peace and Tragedy,” “Harmonic Strife,” and “Del Duende” – a duet with himself over the skittering rhythm section – might well break the brain of a well-rounded picker, but just as easily speaks to the heart of the non-musician. It helps that Grenadier (who often serves as a counter-melodic foil to Margolis) and Harland are a perfect rhythm team for Margolis’ vision. A brilliant example of how to express creative ideas with expert technique, Interlude of the Duende plants a flag that’s colorful, creative, and transcendent.