Jaime Ospina, working with a powerful group of musicians for five days in the Lechehouse Music studios in Buda, Texas, produced a challenging and innovative album, ‘The Vessel,’ which is available now on Bandcamp. Ospina, a founding member of the group Superfonicos, enlisted Grupo Fantasma member Beto Martinez to engineer and mix these ten engaging songs and play guitar along with Fumihoito Sugawara and Mauro Lopez. Ospin, using a workshop approach, worked closely with Alex Marrero, Fabian Rincon, John Speice, Robb Kid, Daniel Sanchez on drums, Greg Goodman, and Nicolas Sanchez on bass. 

Keyboardist – Peter Stopschinski and Stefano Intelisano; Stefano Intelisano on Accordion; 

 Joe Woullard on Tenor Sax and flute, Victor Cruz, Noah Mosgofian, and Nick Tozzo on percussion. Ospina also contributed to the gaita and gauta, wind instruments that are the main melodic tools of the album.

“El Viento” (The Wind) is a polyrhythmic masterpiece. With its improvised sections, the song follows the themes established by Ospina’s gauta. Touches of marimba and guitar add to the mix before a recompilation of the central musical theme. The result is a joyous tune, a fitting lead-in to the title song, “ The Vessel.” Kalu James, Emilie Basez & Kate Roberson provide the haunting vocals and lyrics—the song, which translates to La Vasija in Spanish. “El Closet” is equally dynamic. The song’s title refers to being trapped by one’s own perceived limitations. The song also refers to the more contemporary meaning of a closet as it relates to sexual identity. The jazz-tinged piano solo complements the conga/bongo backing. Touches of accordion also enhance the song’s melodic core, while Ospina’s gauta provides expressive solos. 

’The Vessel’ is a fascinating journey with compelling elements that are rewarding to listen to, while the whole is totally unique.