Alto saxophonist Yosvany Terry left his native Cuba for the Bay Area and ultimately settled in New York, where he has become an important figure in the jazz scene. He has enjoyed high-profile associations with the likes of Steve Coleman, Avishai Cohen, and Jason Lindner, but he's also showing great promise as a leader. His debut disc, Twisted Noon, features his band Columna "B" as it existed back in Berkeley. The album is therefore not entirely representative of what Terry has been up to since his arrival on the East Coast. Still, it affords a good look at his advanced and uplifting musical vision, and boasts the talents of strong musicians such as pianist Roberto Carcasses, bassist/brother Yunior Terry, drummer Josh Jones, percussionist Jesus Díaz, and trombonist Marty Wehner (on half the cuts). Carcasses and Díaz share much of the writing and arranging credit with Terry, which explains why the band's name, not Terry's, appears on the outer packaging.
Scheherazade Stone's soulful vocals color two of the tracks, including a rich Latin arrangement of the standard "Tenderly." Sandy Cressman's background vocals and Díaz's captivating Spanish-language refrains serve to emphasize the multicultural thrust of Terry's music, which brings together Afro-Cuban, funk, and bebop elements. (Catch Terry's quote of "If I Should Lose You" during the closing "El Noticiero.") ~ David R. Adler