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Island Hopping (2024)

Gabriel Evan’s third album Island Hopping is a continuation of his exploration into Caribbean Jazz and folk music of the early-mid twentieth century that began on his last record Global Entry. The influences range from Cuba’s own Lecuona Cuban Boys down to Venezuela’s Lionel Belasco, and everywhere in between.

A welcomed batch of band hits on Pani Ti Moun, an early 1930’s beguine from the island of Martinique, sets the tone for the record, before settling into a danceable groove that will define much of Island Hopping. Carmencita (1933), one of two classic Lionel Belasco waltzes from the record (Venezuela the other), presents the more languid and delicate side of the record, with Gabriel Evan and trombonist Charlie Halloran trading passages back and forth. Charlie himself runs Charlie & the Tropicales, a New Orleans based 60’s-style Caribbean lounge band, so recruiting him as well as bandmates Jafet Perez (percussion) and Pete Olynciw (bass) on the record were a perfect fit.

Boychick Calypso, the first original track of the record, rings true to its title (Boychick in Yiddish translates to ‘young boy’), as the playful melody brings a child-like energy to the listeners’ ears. Jafet shows off with his fills and keeps the energy high throughout the track, all in support of the four soloists. Habana Hammock is the other original song, invoking the more delicate side of the record. The lazy island groove, established by Kris Tokarski (piano), and simple melody transport the listener to an isolated beach, lounging seaside without a care in the world. Guitarist Josh Dunn, who traveled down to the Crescent City from NYC to record with Gabriel, plays a calming and introspective solo, one of the best on the record.

The rest of the ambitious 15 track album, continues with the juxtaposition of higher octane numbers like Asi Parè, Lamoula Créole and Rumba Blanca, mixed in with more elegant tunes like Tes Yeux, Flor de Yumuri and Amor (Bolero). Island Hopping is the perfect summer album! Truly an early-mid century Caribbean revue that anyone, familiar or not with this music, needs to hear.