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Continuing the incorporation of Cuban rhythms and instruments to my music, this album fuses the sounds of American jazz with raw sounds from my ancestral culture. The use of bata drums and cowbells are a distinctive feature in the title track "Land of Giants", which also has harmonic and melodic influences from epic games music. (World of Warcraft my favorite :D) Another feature of the album is the incorporation of vocals in the tunes "Heartbreaker" and "When I Had You". The track "Timba Reel" is a fusion of Irish reel melodies with Cuban timba rhythms. As a curiosity, the track "Tang2.718281828459...nt", composed by Noah Austin (trumpet), spells the letter "e" with its numeric value, forming the word "tangent". The melody of this tune is a fun challenge to hear and to play. Enjoy "Land of Giants"!

ALBUM DETAILS

The creation of the album Land of Giants was a huge step for the group. A leap of faith from the typical jazz standards to Blanco’s original music. It was his desire to expand the musical limits and incorporate jazz, with an underpinned of other styles. “It was a fun challenge to incorporate Afro-Cuban rhythms, reggae, ska and pop-rock ballads to our palette. As a way to transcend to a more commercial music, I incorporated vocals to some tunes, trombonist Gabriella Aragon and myself are featured singing,” explains Blanco.  The musical nature of the themes and melodies include a heavy stroke of several influences.  Afro-Cuban bata drums in 6/8 playing traditional religious Cuban music from slaves in 1800s, mixed with harmonies from the video game World of Warcraft.

The piano motive played at the intro of “Land of Giants” is a direct transcription from a bata drum rhythm. The fusion in this album is a strong element as it is the variety in the tunes, that shape the overall arc of the album.

The tune “Tang2.718182848259...nt (Tangent)” was written by the trumpet player Noah Austin and the name substitutes the letter “e” with its numeric value. He did a double major in music and mathematical physics.

 “In an Instant” (released as single) with its instrumental version “Lost Words”, was inspired by the sudden illness and death of Blanco’s grandfather earlier this year.

“Timba Reel” was born out of an intense weekend of research about bagpipes music. In it, Blanco combines melodies that sound like Irish-Scottish reels with rhythms from Cuban timba style.  

 “Heartbreaker” is the story of a lady who is a victim of a toxic love story which makes her a cold woman. 

“When I Had You” is the story of a person that dreams about a loved one, and that love is so intense, that he is able to imagine he is with her even though it never really happened. “...mindless heart who (imagines) touches light (which is not even possible) being blind (and he can’t even see it)...” says Blanco.

 “Look at the Sky, Girl” is a song of freedom and its endless dreams, especially dedicated to those women who lock themselves in countless situations where they have to give up their dreams for the well-being of others or are simply victims of life and society. 

“Sing with Melody” is a mixture of Cuban Timba elements, crossed with a melody inspired by J. S. Bach.  

“Fast Wired Blues” originally was composed as a simple theme, that could easily be played in any key, although the shout-chorus bridge wouldn’t agree with that, so the tune became more complex. 

“Parallel Jokes” was born one day when Blanco was looking for random notes in an app, he came across a sequence he liked and played suspended parallel chords on every note, improvised a theme, transcribed it, and it worked. 

 Raul Blanco is a leader, creative composer and adventuresome spirit.  His thirst for exploration influences his music in an informed and musical way.