Flores para Verne / Cantos para Caramina is a wonderful collection of jazz snippets that are as beautiful in the meaning behind their creation as they are to their composition and musicality as a whole.
Presented in jazzy tracks that are laid out in short snippets that last no longer than a minute or two, the short but sweet songs in the album have a raw and emotional vibe to them that makes them all the more worth listening to.
Created by Tomin Perea-Chamblee, a 27-year-old brass and reed-centered multi-instrumentalist from New York, the album is an intimate and minimalist tribute to the people that Tomin holds dear in his life.
Flores para Verene—which translates to “Flowers for Verene”—is Tomin’s tribute to his life’s hero, his maternal grandmother, who passed away in 2019. On the other side of the album is Cantos para Caramina, which translates to “Songs for Caramina” — a collection that pays tribute to his sister.
The context behind the creation of the album adds more depth and meaning to the already raw and personal aura that the songs in the collection provide in the first place.
The touching tribute by Tomin is perfected with a simple yet masterful touch in arranging the many instruments that command heartfelt melodies — painting a picture of hope and honour.
One could even say that the album extends far beyond a tribute. It serves as Tomin’s way to honour his roots. Songs such as “Assunta (for Cal Massey),” “Rahsaan Is Beautiful,” and “Love” are just some of the many notable pieces in the album, which, in its simplicity, shines brighter than ever.
