Today Masha Ocean Quartet have released a genre-defying debut album, Kaleidoscopic Realities. The 9-track project takes influences from every corner of the globe and guides listeners through the forefront of modern jazz in English, Russian, and Spanish.
The album’s lead single Tolox was released earlier this year and already gained praise from reviewers who described it as a “wonderfully jazzy, upbeat and soulful infusion of Spanish lyrics with extended saxophone solos – certain to get any listener off their feet.” (Music Crowns).
The entirety of the album follows similar energies, but takes us on a musical journey through different genres and languages. Kaleidoscopic Realities evokes jazz, bossa-nova, cool jazz, modern jazz, blues, bebop, avant-garde hip-hop, classical, and electronic music. There is truly a track for everyone, from its opening single Stormy Weather to the more softened piano and vocal-fronted closing track That Night It Was Lightly Raining.
Masha Ocean Quartet is led by the Spain-based musician Masha Ocean who is well-regarded for her notable contributions to jazz music. She won the International Jazz Vocal Competition 2017 and received the second position in the Ill Competition of Young Jazz Talents, Femina Jazz 2021.
Francis Posé, a highly acclaimed Spanish double bassist accompanies Masha, with additional collaborations including Jorge Pardo and Perico Sambeat. The quartet comes together with a selection of prominent figures from the contemporary Spanish jazz landscape, including Isaac Pascual, a pianist, composer, and arranger who contributed significantly to the album’s composition, and the incredible drummer Ramón López.
Also on some tracks of the album is the renowned musician and former guitarist for Amy Winehouse, Robin Banerjee. In addition, Daniel Torres the celebrated saxophonist is credited with the arrangement of ‘Tolox’, and Felix Rossy, a skilled trumpet player collaborated with Torres for Tolox.
