Daniel Villarreal

★★★★ Panamá 77 INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM. DL/LP

Texturally deep solo debut from percussive hub of Chicago bands

Dos Santos, Valebol and Ida y Vuelta.

A flexible mainstay of several folkloric Latin outfits in his adopted city of Chicago, Daniel Villarreal’s homage to his birthplace draws on the improvisatory skills of fellow scene stylists including Elliot Bergman, Kellen Harrison, Jeff Parker and Bardo Martinez. Yet Villarreal never lets his rattling battalions of shakers, congas, bells and shells overtake their creations, whether driving the mellow drones of In/On, sensual guitar/violin abstractions of Cali Colours, winding Herbie Hancock-esque Rhodes of Parque En Seis or the laid-back Roy Ayers vibes of 18th & Morgan. Despite sounding effortlessly organic, Villarreal’s post-production edits are a critical part of the process (see also: Makaya McCraven, Junius Paul), hybridising subtle shades of cumbia, chicha, folk, reggaeton and salsa into his forward-facing, flowing slant on jazz.