Growing up in Venado Tuerto, a small town in central Argentina, drummer/composer Juan Chiavassa was introduced to music at an early age by his father, a fusion fanatic who switched him on to the sounds of The Yellowjackets, Mike Stern, Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter and many others. After winning a scholarship to Berklee College Of Music, where he was taught by the legendary saxophonist George Garzone, Juan’s talent shone through brightly enough to attract the attention of the cream of the New York scene, and his dreams came true when he was chosen for the drum chair in the Mike Stern band, alongside the very musicians whose recordings his father had played to him so many years before. Now, after eight years playing at the highest level on the NYC scene, he’s here with his debut album. Fourth Generation presents Juan leading a multi-generational band of world-class talent. Legendary bassist John Pattitucci is joined on piano and Rhodes by Juan’s Venado Tuerto compadre Leo Genovese, and the band is fronted by his erstwhile mentor George Garzone on tenor. It feels like a real homecoming party, surrounded by the friends and teachers who helped Juan become who he is today, with surprise guests Mike Stern and Pedrito Martinez dropping by to hang out and jam.

The choice of tunes reflects Juan’s love of the deep jazz tradition, especially the era when the music broke through the barriers of bop into the freewheeling sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. “I wanted everyone to be comfortable on this session – not reading, just playing their hearts out. So I picked material that I knew they could play effortlessly.” Joe Farrell’s ‘Moon Germs’ is a classic minor blues that is the perfect vehicle for Mike Stern’s unmistakable guitar. Joe Henderson’s ‘Caribbean Fire Dance’ is a vehicle for Juan’s ever-musical drumming. “I arranged a trade between the melody, which is very rich rhythmically, and space for the drums to explore,” while Wayne Shorter’s ‘Penelope’ makes space for Pattiucci’s unmatched skill on bass. “John never played this tune in his 40 years of playing, so I said to him, this one’s for you.” More deep cuts follow from the same catalogue: ‘Tetragon’ has a powerful bassline driving Genovese’s Fender Rhodes, while the impeccably swinging ‘The Big Push’ is the perfect vehicle for George Garzone’s harmonically adventurous but always soulful improvisation and some thrilling trades between drums and bass.

A choice selection of Garzone originals sit perfectly alongside these classic compositions. ‘Hey Open Up’ is a Garzone standard. “He told me this is his favorite version he ever recorded.” The track opens with a free-flowing sax/drums duet that builds until the magic moment when Genovese and Pattitucci join, the whole band telepathically united. ‘The Other Mingus’ is a classic Garzone twisty bopper with a subtle Italian flavor. ‘Tutti Italiani’ nods towards the band’s shared Italian heritage, while ‘To Michael Brecker’ is a stunning free-rhythm tribute from one saxophone master to another. As a bonus, there’s an irresistibly head-nodding funky jam with Mike Stern and Pedrito Martinez doing what they do best.

This is a powerful tribute to the enduring appeal of hard-swinging, high energy jazz, performed by master musicians at the top of their game. Supported by his friends and mentors, Juan Chiavassa shows himself to be an important new voice to be reckoned with, fully at home in this exalted company and in the music they play. “In many ways, I feel part of the musical legacy of these artists and those they worked with. That’s the inspiration behind the album title, Fourth Generation. This quartet represents four generations of acclaimed musicians. The choice of players and repertoire pays tribute to the legends who shaped my sound and helped define my artistic identity.”