Alongside his gifted colleagues, bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Henry Cole, Fabian Almazan unveils music of both extraordinary complexity and transparent beauty on his new album This Land Abounds With Life (Biophilia Records). Almazan – a mainstay of the Terence Blanchard group since 2007 – here employs electronics, his own field recordings from Cuba, and other sonic devices to create an epic portrait of nature and folkloric expression. Almazan, Oh and Cole debuted as a trio in 2011 on Personalities, celebrating with a breakthrough week at the Village Vanguard that was webcast by NPR. That core unit remained integral to the lineup of Almazan’s next project, the hybrid ensemble Rhizome, adding string quartet and Camila Meza on vocals (documented on the albums Rhizome and Alcanza), re­flecting the leader’s extensive training in classical composition. With This Land Abounds With Life, Fabian Almazan refocuses on the trio, a smaller unit that nonetheless also conveys the full scope of his emotional expression and far–reaching vision. Fabian Almazan – piano, percussion, electronics Linda May Han Oh – acoustic & electric bass Henry Cole – drums