Edmar Castaneda @ The KC Jazz Club

The interaction between Castaneda and drummer Dave Silliman was impressive throughout the concert. Employing a drumset that included a battery of trinkets, hand drums, and a cajon instead of the traditional drum throne, Silliman showcased his melodic style and complete mastery of Latin rhythms. The San Francisco native, who has played with artists ranging from Mariah Carey to Cassandra Wilson, shined on "Entre Cuerdas", a challenging composition that began with a traditional Colombian theme and developed into a polyrhythmic workout.

After performing "Jesus de Nazareth", a gorgeous solo piece Castaneda composed in celebration of his strong faith, the full trio once again took the stage to perform an uptempo samba interpretation of the classic, "Autumn Leaves". During the song, Castaneda traded extended cadenzas with Gilkes, in which the Maryland native juxtaposed his crystalline tone with burps and squeaks to almost outshine his bandleader.

Casteneda then invited vocalist Andrea Tierra onto the stage. He quipped that the band is normally a quartet, but was now a quintet. Not missing a beat, his lovely and colorfully dressed wife jokingly massaged her very pregnant belly. Jokes aside, the ensemble performed a dramatic piece by Joan Manuel Serrat, which Tierra delivered with a passion often associated with Latin vocalists. The rewarding evening came to a close with one of Tierra's compositions. Set over a traditional Colombian rhythm, Tierra sang an ode to her homeland, her rich alto evoking imagery of beautiful mountains, blue skies, and open-hearted people.