Kevin Laliberte

A beloved flamenco guitar presence keeping busy in the Pan-Latin music scene Toronto provides, Kevin Laliberté on Sundance manages to wrap his fingers around some different sources and come up a with a very listenable bundle of tracks. With backup from a cadre of local long-time collaborators — mainly Rosendo "Chendry” Léon on percussion, along with Drew Birston on upright bass and Ernie Tollar on flute cousins bansuri and nay adding that Eastern feel on tracks like the surreal "Hypnotica” — Laliberté brings together the mischievous, upbeat and glorious on "Café Cortado” and the title track. The easy comparisons to Gipsy Kings or Jesse Cook (with whom Laliberté toured for years) or to Laliberté’s earlier albums (2000’s Elation and 2006’s Siesta) don’t quite fit, save for a return to form (but with better, more surprising choices) after the quieter 2006 release. While CBC Radio Toronto’s already slotted some of the tunes, watch for the selections from Laliberté’s latest to make the Latin jazz playlists for a while to come yet.