Jane Bunnett's Alma De Santiago

Making music with the celebrated artists she's collaborated with has taken Jane Bunnett to "some incredible places". "And I don't mean just physically," the flautist and saxophonist will tell you. "I've always been drawn to music that's enriched my life, but I never realized how deep the connection with Cuban music would go. I'm tied to Cuba." Bunnett's relationship with that island nation began innocently enough. Fifteen years back, she and trumpeter husband Larry Cramer took refuge from a typically nasty Canadian winter there and were bitten hard by the music bug. Since then, they've released several critically acclaimed albums which mine the mind-boggling diversity that is Cuban music. 1996's Jane Bunnett and the Cuban Piano Masters was a drummerless record that saw Bunnett and company elegantly weaving together European classical, jazz and Cuban classical forms. And '97s star-studded Chamalongo was a percussive feast that embraced Cuban folkloric music, Santeria chants, and jazz improvisation. Bunnett calls Chamalongo the most passionate record of her career and the critics agreed, heaping lavish praise upon it. Not content to get by on the props, Bunnett conceptual... more...