Now, there is music for those who just want to feel the groove and react. Then, there is music that beckons you to listen with all you’ve got while you groove because there are things going on here.  If it were a road sign, it might read: Creativity in the Making or Artist at Work.  That would be the music you need to follow, and it’s music that won’t lead you astray, as proven here by the very talented pianist,  Klay D-C, and his latest release, Ritmo (Spanish and Italian for ‘rhythm,” and you’ll soon find out why that title).

Fans of vibist Roy Ayers' Ubiquity may remember Klay's membership in that group from 1999 - 2004.  Also, in 1998, his band, The Jazz Steppers, won the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Best Jazz Act award.

This is a most interesting and entertaining album, as it draws on so many cool influences, straight-ahead, classical  Latin, pop, and more to create this colorful collection of fusion at its best. The firm percussions, the commanding piano runs and chords, and the clever changes and phrasings all make this production pop in every imaginable way.

Track one, “Mungabunga” starts off as a sedate acoustic piano piece before exploding before our very ears in a mushrooming cloud of delectable salsa rhythm.  Track two, the title track, goes totally Latin on us and dances happily about as it totally envelopes all who approach it. Track 4’s “Somethin’ Else” slaps a funky, snappy rhythm on us while showcasing Klay D-C’s piano in a very flattering light.

The Latin influence is thick throughout this project, and it’s handled in a very savvy manner, by incorporating it in such a way as to still showcase other influences in its midst.  A very creative integration, indeed.  Oh, salsa is definitely part of the order of the day here, but we’re not overwhelmed by it (though that certainly would not be a bad thing for many, including me).
 
There’s also the vibrant and beckoning track 6, “Wadayawant?,”  another example of the artist’s grasp of piano in the grand scheme and role in all this.

Need some more funk tossed in this fusion ride? Try track  7’s “The Muse,” which toys with that element while still choosing a very handsome fusion path to travel.

Suffice it to say that Klay D-C adds a cool twist to fusion that is quite appealing. It demonstrates yet another artist thinking on his feet and devoted to delivering the finest quality product within his capability. To quote The Smooth Jazz Daily: “When rhythm meets intelligence;  when melody meets improvisation, you find (Klay D-C) at the point of all intersections.”  I like that, and it says it all.  Very impressive work, to say the least. --  Ronald Jackson