Travesia is the sixth album for Columbia Records by saxophonist David Sanchez and represents a change from the Latin jazz sounds of his previous album Melaza. Travesia is much more in the direction of 'mainstream' progressive jazz. On the album, Sanchez is joined by the same combo with bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Antonio Sanchez, plus, on most of the songs, pianist Edsel Gomez, alto
… saxophonist Miguel Zenon, and percussionist Pernell Saturnino. Sanchez would not be Sanchez if there were not a pressing indictment on the album, this time in the form of the song Paz Pa Vieques (Seis Horreao) / Peace For Vieques (about the many abuses on Sanchez's native island of Puerto Rico). Two of the album's better songs were written by saxophonist Zenon: Joyful a moving and intelligently crafted song, built on a strong basic rhythm, and The Power of the Word, an exciting duel between the two saxes. With this album David Sanchez convincingly proves that he can do more than just play Latin jazz. (RM) _more