Rachel Therrien: ‘Mi Hogar II’

The prolific global trumpeter and composer Rachel Therrien has produced another great album - ‘Mi Hogar II’.

Withher Latin Jazz Project Mi Hogar II, Rachel set out to record an album to follow up on the 2023 Mi Hogar and in the process, she employed the talents of many musicians - far too many to list here - to reflect on community. She quite deliberately brought together the modern jazz elements with those from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Afro-Cuban music.

The album starts with John Benitez’s Fiestas Campesinas. Beginning as an extended piano introduction, the arrival of the other musicians and Rachel’s stunning trumpet, this tune sets the tone for all of those influences to come together. There are some brilliant improvised solos that demonstrate clearly why Rachel chose to use those musicians.

Whatever the style or tempo, Rachel’s trumpet solos are inspired and a genuine reflection of the sub-genre: Orun and Beauty Free have a subtlety, while the bass opening of Soucy  heralds some less subtle but equally engaging rhythms, melodic lines and improvisation passages.

I cheated when it came to listening to Back Home and I watched the YouTube video. You should, too: the video was filmed in New Orleans but it also contains references to the New York jazz traditions and music from south America.

I was pleased to be able to chat with Rachel at jazzahead! in April and you can listen in on Harmonious World. I was delighted to discover that Rachel has performed with the wonderful Arturo O’Farrill, who I chatted to in June 2021.

Listen to ‘Mi Hogar II’ and more of Rachel Therrien’s music on Bandcamp