Noertaker’s Moxie – “Sketches of Catalonia ” – [Edgetone Records]

Spanish Surrealist, Modern Art & Architecture and Jazz? Sure, why not? With graphic design that directly quotes the Miles Davis / Gil Evans masterpiece ‘Sketches of Spain’ this is the first of 3 in a suite of jazz compositions inspired by Dali, Miro and Gaudi. Recorded in San Francisco in 2001, this has a kind of post-bop cool flavor, not really very surreal at all. Still, it is a nice work and it should be interesting to hear the other two sessions. Added Note: Dali, Miro and Gaudi were all from the Catalonia region but are often misclassified as “Spanish Artists.” Some (many) Catalonians do not consider themselves to be part of Spain – there is a strong separatist movement. review by David Richoux