Gustavo Cortiñas – The Crisis Knows No Borders (Desafío Candente Records, 2025)
Chicago-based drummer and composer Gustavo Cortiñas tackles humanity’s most pressing challenges with The Crisis Knows No Borders. In this ambitious release, Cortiñas confronts the existential threats of climate change and global inequality, transforming them into a beautiful musical statement.
Throughout the album, Cortiñas constructs a colorful set that supports his concerns about sustainability, interconnectedness, and the fragile threads binding our global community. To bring this vision to life, he assembled a stellar ensemble, featuring guitarist Dave Miller, tenor saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and violinist Mark Feldman.
Inspired by the far-reaching socio-political and humanitarian impacts of climate change, The Crisis Knows No Borders serves as both a warning and a plea.
Cortiñas shared: “While my previous projects delved into colonialism and immigration, I now aim to confront the existential threats to our civilization. My hope is to inspire unity and empathy through music, reminding us of our shared humanity and intertwined destinies.”
Importantly, these compositions celebrate the power of collective resilience. The ensemble’s synergy is palpable, embodying the very interconnectedness the album advocates.
The opening track, “The Basic Economic Farsity,” offers a sharp critique of the imbalance between luxury and necessity, juxtaposing urban and rural influences.
In “The Growth Imperative,” Cortiñas examines the unsustainability of unchecked economic expansion, blending expansive themes with volatile improvisation to reflect the chaos of perpetual growth.
The title track, with its folkloric melodies and shifting rhythms, powerfully conveys the message of global interdependence, urging us toward collective action. Meanwhile, “The Man of Flesh and Bone” introduces a philosophical layer, offering a profound meditation on mortality inspired by Miguel de Unamuno.
While each musician is given space to shine, the heart of this project lies in its collective improvisation. The ensemble’s unconventional instrumentation unlocks a wide palette of textures and colors, allowing the music to roam freely across stylistic terrain. Cortiñas and his collaborators strike a delicate balance, one moment exuding restraint and tenderness, the next erupting in fiery abandon. The result is a rich set of intricate interplay, experimentation, and moments of sheer beauty.
The album closes with “A Drum Solo for the End of Times,” a reflective and poignant finale that encapsulates the album’s urgency, sorrow, and hope. Cortiñas proves himself to be a master storyteller, weaving thought-provoking and emotionally charged narratives.
Musicians: Mark Feldman on violin; Jon Irabagon on tenor sax; Dave Miller on guitar; and Gustavo Cortiñas on drum set.