Award winning Costa Rica-born percussionist/composer/arranger/producer Luis Munoz, now a resident of Santa Barbara, California, is a master drummer. A student of music and architecture in Costa Rica, he received a music degree from UC Santa Barbara in 1974. This all-instrumental project marks his eight album.  Munoz performs on drums and keyboards and is accompanied by Jonathan Dane (trumpet), and Munoz’s trio partners, Brendan Statom (acoustic bass), and Daniel Zimmerman (Electric and acoustic guitar). The seven song program, all composed by Munoz, is an exciting and impressive outing. Secrecy opens with trumpet, drums and guitar with a flair, before it slows to a simmer with a guitar motif. The trumpet is given lead voice, although the band is featured in the ebb and flow of the piece.  Following a drum and cymbal introduction, Seveneves sees Ramses Araya guesting on busy and inventive percussion, though Munoz remains steadfast at the drums. Again, beautiful trumpet. Dane is clearly a Miles Davis disciple.

The Sleep of the Innocent (Trio version) sees Dane step out for the band to shine. Bass, drums and guitar are brilliant.  The very percussive Tierranegra is horn and rhythm again with a Latin jazz feel. The Dead Man, complete with drum rolls and rattles, is reminiscent in sections of Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock. Invisible (Trio version) again is a vehicle for guitar, drums and bass. It’s a gentle piece that entices.  The 10-minute closer, Savannah, is cinematic with especially impressive guitar work, with drumming on rims, skins, and cymbals. When the trumpet is introduced it’s almost Mingus-esque. It’s a breathtaking work that draws the listener in. Not exactly Latin jazz, it is adventurous, and very rhythmic and percussive.