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Excerpt from the CD liner notes by Bob Seymour

''Followers of La Lucha have known for a long time that this is a 'trio with a difference.' The first-call rhythm section in the Tampa Bay scene is at home in any jazz context, with the telepathic interplay you expect from a band together for years. But the places they reach for inspiration, the intriguing choices in finding and writing material, and the combination of these three spirited personalities have endeared La Lucha to listeners and to an ever-widening circle of collaborators. And they just keep getting better.

John, Alejandro, and Mark - raised in Mexico, Colombia, and Florida, respectively - met up in a practice room at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, in 2006. The three were soon best friends, and the musical experiences from their younger years, collectively from punk to heavy metal, salsa to classical, were all grist for the mill as they delved into learning and creating jazz. Their energies and cultural backgrounds melded, and La Lucha became known for a sound with lots of Latin rhythms, combining jazz and American Songbook standards with their self-described 'twisted arrangements' of 80s and 90s pop tunes, and originals by each of the guys.

The band's name means ''the fight, or struggle.'' They view it as a positive reminder to overcome whatever one needs to, including the obstacles found in living with a commitment to an artistic life. This is a great moment for the trio that has shared that commitment for years, and if this is your introduction to La Lucha, you have a lot of great listening in store!''

Featuring:

MELISSA ALDANA tenor saxophone
DIEGO FIGUEIREDO acoustic guitar
KEN PEPLOWSKI clarinet, fender rhodes, moog synth, voice
HOUSTON PERSON tenor saxophone
CHUCK REDD vibraphone
Producer KEN PEPLOWSKI

Track Listing

Press Quotes

John C. O'Leary III (a classically trained pianist from Mexico), Alejandro Arenas (a Columbian heavy-metal bassist) and Mark Feinman (a punk-rock drummer from Florida) all came together in college to play jazz. And their latest offering as La Lucha finds all three members contributing original material that sits alongside jazz versions of songs by pop rock stars like The Beach Boys and David Bowie.

Melissa Aldana's big, warm tenor is a welcome addition to the ensemble on a few tracks, finding a joyful balance between virtuosity and lyricism. She's undoubtedly the star of the title track--a hit by '80s band Tears for Fears--reinterpreting the melody (maybe too much) and developing it with concentrated, swirling phrases into an emotive flashpoint. The intricate arrangements here reveal imagination and attention to detail. However, it would be nice to hear a deeper sense of groove and precision within the rhythm section, especially in the funk and rock-based tunes. But the overall effect is energetic, eclectic and uplifting.

     —Gary Fukushima, DownBeat Magazine September 2020

...An utterly delightful listening experience guaranteed to take you as far away from Covidtosis as gravity will allow. A real one of a kind set that'll blow your ears wide open.

     —Chris Spector, Midwest Record