Lucia Sarmiento, Escape Review

Lucia Sarmiento’s Afro-Peruvian Soul: Escape

by Sylvannia Garutch

Lucia Sarmiento is not here to play it safe. With Escape, her debut album, the Peruvian-born saxophonist delivers a modern jazz sound unbound by geography, genre, or convention. It is a record forged in the fire of exploration, where hard-hitting improvisation flows with a borderless musical vocabulary. From Afro-Peruvian rhythms to the electric crackle of jazz fusion, Sarmiento charts a course that honors her inner muse. In doing so, she embodies the ethos of jazz as an art form in perpetual motion, ceaselessly listening, restlessly in the pocket, and settling in the stream of moments.

At the heart of Escape is Sarmiento’s tenor saxophone voice. Despite her modest physical stature, her sound is anything but diminutive. Drawing on a strong sense of time, she infuses each phrase with palpable bounce and emotive power. Whether launching into fiery solos on “Signal Flow” or delicately tracing intricate melodic lines on “Morning Delight,” her saxophone becomes a voice of expression.

Behind every great soloist stands an ensemble capable of elevating the music to greater heights, and Sarmiento’s band is no exception. Guitarist Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy) brings a raw, electrified energy that seamlessly blends with her genre-hopping aesthetic, while bassist Kevin Scott’s deep grooves anchor the album’s more exploratory moments. The rhythmic interplay between drummer Jason Thomas and Afro-Peruvian percussionist Tony Succar infuses the music with a dynamic pulse, bridging continents with each polyrhythmic flourish. Keyboardist Jason Matthews, with his luminous harmonies and deft voicings, rounds out the group, offering a textural depth that underscores the album’s wide-ranging sonic palette. Together, they form a unit capable of shifting from ferocious intensity to exquisite subtlety at a moment’s notice.

The album’s sonic palette is a vibrant fusion of global influences and contemporary R&B jazz. Sarmiento has a style that melds Afro-Peruvian rhythms with the edgy textures of Minneapolis funk, jazz fusion, and even elements of rock and pop. “Look Up” has an interplay of traditional Afro-Peruvian percussion and soaring melodic lines speaks to her cultural roots. “Dreamland” is augmented by a gritty, inspired solo from Lettieri. Sarmiento showcases her ability to traverse stylistic boundaries with finesse in her writing and soloing. This cross-genre melding mirrors her personal journey across continents and musical worlds.

The eleven tracks form a compelling aspect of adventure as Escape is a narrative of different feels and melodic adventures. Sarmiento’s career, spanning tours with international pop figures like Pitbull and Karol G, as well as intimate engagements in the local jazz scene, has been defined by risk-taking and a relentless quest for authenticity. Her reimagining of “Porcelain” transforms a familiar rock tune into a soulful, cinematic jazz statement, while “Skipping a Beat” pulsates with an energy that is adventurous and evolves through time feels and tempos. In every track, Sarmiento invites listeners into music where boundaries dissolve, and music becomes a space for self-discovery and expression.

Escape is a vibrant combination of contemporary R&B jazz and world music fusion.  Lucia Sarmiento performance offers an clear reason to follow her in her journey of embracing one’s true artistic identity. This album is fearless first step on the journey of the boundless possibilities of jazz.