If you haven't heard the new CD by Michelle Pollace, you might want to give it a listen. It has a fresh, vibrant and harmonic sound. The album is titled New Beginning, and it features 10 tracks of which eight are original compositions. Pollace plays piano and keyboard on this project. She is backed up by David Belove on bass, Phil Hawkins on drums, Carlos Caro and Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion, and saxophonist Kristen Strom as guest soloist.

There is a definite Latin Jazz flavor to this CD. She previously co-led the Latin Lazz fusion band Zarate Pollace project with songwriter Abel Zarate. There is an element of surprise with the first song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It can be described as an uptempo cha-cha. Some of the other songs of note include: "Hot House Dandelion," "New Beginning," "First Flight," "Bright Eyes," "Ondas do Mar" which is a smooth funky bossa, "That Was Then," and "Be Right Back." This project offers a few things: Afro-Cuban songs, Latin Jazz, Brazilian, and Jazz Fusion.

If you like all of the above, then this groove is for you. It even has a little bit of Cal Tjader. He had a tremendous influence on Latin Jazz. It is nice to see that on this album. I look for more from Michelle Pollace in the future. You can visit her website to get more information on this album and what she is up to. In the meantime, give this one a try. I'm sure that you will be pleasantly surprised.