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Colombian-born bandleader Santiago Orozco has a definite musical outlook when it comes to melding elements of samba, reggae, Latin jazz and rock. Coupled with a diverse band roster — artists hail from Canada (Toronto), Jamaica, Venezuela and the U.S., respectively — the end results are sonically pleasing on new album Conexion. The album's 14 tracks from the San Diego-based group carry a vibrancy that eschews filler, leveraging elements of Afro-Cuban jazz, reggae and Peruvian Chicha in the process. Standouts are "Male Male," "Por Ti Sere" and the title track, while "My Only Light" wavers on the more melodramatic side. However, livelier tracks like the roots-reggae-friendly "Flying Through the Air" and socially conscious "Escucha Que" pick up the slack. It's not often that bands more geared towards the live experience manage to carry that vibe to wax, but the musically diverse Conexion handily manages this feat.