Melaza

The name of the album refers to the sociopolitical history of Puerto Rico and its African immigrants. Melaza in English means "molasses," and Sanchez means to draw analogies between black workers' efforts in harvesting sugar cane and the process of making music: in both cases, he writes, "you work very hard and sacrifice a lot for something that surprises you as a sweet, rich result." That imagery applies splendidly to this, the most exciting of the five albums under his name--and thus the most faithful to his inspiring live performances. Much of the magic results from the addition of a second horn, a piquant alto saxist going by the name Zenon, which allows Sanchez to expand the harmonies and colors of his compositions. The second horn also provides a different voice behind which Sanchez's scintillating rhythm section (starring longtime associates Edsel Gomez on piano and Adam Cruz on drums) can rally in accompaniment. The album also attests to a growing finesse on the part of producer Branford Marsalis, who guests on a couple of tracks but mainly has contented himself with keeping the entire project on target. Together, he and Sanchez prove that Melaza is not just for dessert anymore. --Neil Tesser