Jazz Collab Brings Taste of Cuba to Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was standing room only at Putnam Place when a mix of silky smooth vocals and Cuban jazz sounds swirled together.

Caffe Lena presented a seven-person collaboration (including four vocalists) on Tuesday night that featured Lena’s resident jazz pianist Chuck Lamb, Havana-born pianist/composer Jorge Gómez, and singer-songwriter Ria Curley.

After Curley sang with the group for a handful of tracks, Lamb and Gómez performed a series of instrumentals off their “Take 2” album, including the eponymous “Take 2,” which featured a spirited solo on keys by Gómez; “Chabrosa,” a danceable song that included Gómez’s head being smacked by the conga player (presumably for added rhythm); and “Phase 2,” a funky, Dr. John-inspired tune with a blistering tenor sax solo. The ensemble also debuted a new piece from their forthcoming EP (aptly named “Take 3”) called “Estudio.”

Accompanying the sonics was a projected display of Cuban art and photography, showcasing the country’s famous cigars, classic cars, and colorful architecture. The show also included an opening set by the Jazz Pebbles, a youth ensemble from Lena’s School of Music.

Lamb is a longtime member of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, known for his expressive playing and genre-blending compositions that span jazz, classical, fusion, and world music. Gómez is the founder of the three-time Grammy-nominated band Tiempo Libre, famous for their blend of Latin jazz and Cuban timba.