For her debut, the EP Z-isms, she is heard at the head of her own group which includes bassist Jeremiah Hunt, trumpeter Joseph Badaczewski, tenor-saxophonist Jaren Walker, and two guests: drummer Reuben Gingrich and percussionist Pepe Espinosa.

 

The four songs on Z-isms (three of which Zahili composed or co-composed) each cover a different area of music. On the one non-original “Obsesion,” Zahili sings in Spanish. Her arrangement gives the song a medium-tempo strut with a doubletime bridge. In addition to her attractive vocal, Zahili takes a nice melodic piano solo.

 

“Friends” is a feature for Zahili with her trio. The instrumental finds her playing to be both pretty and sophisticated, a little like Bill Evans in spots but with her own musical personality. She concludes the piece as a thoughtful ballad.

 

On “Lighthouse,” which has lyrics by Joseph Badaczewski, the music is funky and danceable with a rhythmic Zahili vocal in English and a heated trumpet solo. Z-isms concludes with “ZaGoZa,” the most Latin-oriented piece on the set. This instrumental has solos by Zahili, both of the horns and a spot for the drummer and percussionist. The arranged horn riffs (by Zahili and Badaczewski) are catchy and make “ZaGoZa” quite infectious.

 

Z-isms gives listeners a sampling of the talents of Zahili Gonzalez Zamora and serves as an important early step in her career as a solo artist. Beyond its historical importance, the music is quite fun, creative and catchy.

 

Scott Yanow, author of 10 books including Afro-Cuban Jazz, Bebop and Jazz On Record 1917-76