By Frank Alkyer | Published April 2025
The crisis in the title of this gripping album by Mexican-born drummer Gustavo Cortiñas, who now lives in Chicago, applies to the globe warming, but rings just as true for the entire sense of chaos we’re experiencing at the moment. This is impactful music, marked with all the sorrow, strife, confusion, anger and bits of joy that go into the confounding mix of emotions Cortiñas feels at this moment in history.
From the downbeat of the opening tune, “The Basic Economic Farsity,” this album grabs the ears and demands attention. Even though it’s a drummer’s record, drums are not at the forefront, rather part of an excellent ensemble. The music begins with the pleading violin of Mark Feldman in a solo that pulls at the heartstrings for well over two minutes before Cortiñas enters along with Jon Irabagon on tenor saxophone and Dave Miller on guitar. At moments the music squaks and squeals in splatters of sound, then locks into a hard groove only to splinter into sound-surfing angst. The effect serves as great storytelling without saying a word. Tunes such as “The Growth Imperative,” “Skepticism,” “The Crisis Knows No Border” and “Your Right Under The Sun” will appeal to those of us who like their jazz with a bit of punk attitude. But there are beautiful, quieter moments, too, such as “Oil And Water Don’t Mix,” “Sea Levels Rising” and “The Man Of Flesh And Bone.” And “Wishcycle” is a great headphone noise interlude.
The album’s closing number shows Cortiñas at his finest with nearly six minutes of intense drum soloing on “Meditation On The End Of Times” — but to call it soloing doesn’t do this piece justice. It is exquisite instant composition that happens to take place on the drums. Cortiñas is masterful, as are his bandmates, as is the entirety of The Crisis Knows No Borders.
