For your Consideration
“Handmade is lively, joyous and warm” – The New York City Jazz Record
Queridos colegas, (in English below),
Con humildad, y también con mucha ilusión, quiero compartir con vosotros mi último trabajo, HANDMADE, que grabé en Nueva York en mayo de 2025 junto a mi noneto, La Inestable de Brooklyn, integrado por algunos de los más destacados solistas y músicos de la escena jazzística neoyorquina.
HANDMADE es una celebración del arte y de la artesanía entendidos como expresiones del alma humana y, por ello, irremplazables por cualquier máquina. Reúne nueve composiciones originales cuya música se nutre profundamente de los ritmos de mi Argentina natal y de la creatividad espontánea del jazz. Al mismo tiempo, desarrolla un discurso narrativo a través de formas extensas, cuidadosamente compuestas y orquestadas.
Como siempre, no busco deslumbrar desde lo intelectual —aunque la música pueda ser compleja por momentos—, sino llegar de la manera más directa posible a la emoción de quien escucha.
Os invito a escucharlo, a verlo y, a considerarlo. Desde ya, mi más sincero agradecimiento por poner tiempo en conocer mi música y por brindarme la oportunidad de compartirla con vosotros.
“A clutch of thematically coherent tunes bursting with melodic and harmonic invention” – All About Jazz
Dear colleagues,
With both humility and excitement, I’d like to share with you my latest recording, HANDMADE, which I recorded in New York in May 2025 with my nine-piece ensemble, La Inestable de Brooklyn, featuring some of the city’s finest jazz soloists and musicians.
HANDMADE is a celebration of art and craftsmanship as expressions of the human spirit—something I believe no machine can ever replace. The album consists of nine original compositions rooted mostly in the rhythms of my native Argentina and the spontaneous creativity of jazz. At the same time, it unfolds through extended forms shaped by carefully crafted narratives and orchestrations that weave their way throughout the music.
As always, my goal is not to impress intellectually—although the music can be intricate at times—but to connect directly with the listener’s emotions.
I warmly invite you to listen, watch, and consider HANDMADE. Thank you for taking the time to experience my music, and for the opportunity to share it with you.
“Everything he creates is simply beautiful” – Modern Drummer
Liner notes by Paquito D’Rivera:
“My dear Emilio, when you ask me what I thought of your new HANDMADE recording, my best response would be to confess that I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve listened to it, consciously or in the background… ‘I knew you wrote well, but not that well,’ I remember telling you, half-seriously, half-jokingly, when we performed together in that tribute to Chick Corea in Alicante…HANDMADE is an album worth listening to again and again. I loved every note of it!”
La Inestable de Brooklyn
Alejandro Aviles (soprano, alto, flute)
Tim Armacost (tenor, clarinet, bass clarinet)
David Smith (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Mike Fahie (trombone)
Rodolfo Zanetti (bandoneon)
Sara Caswell (violin)
Emilio Solla (piano, conductor)
Edward Perez (double-bass)
Rogerio Boccato (drums, percussion)
All music composed and arranged by Emilio Solla (SGAE/BMI)
Producers
Emilio Solla, Denny Abrams
Co-Producer:
Chris Zuar
Recorded at The Bunker, Brooklyn, NY by Brian Montgomery on May 9 & 10, 2025
Edited and mixed by Brian Montgomery at Soundview Studios, White Plains, NY, July – August 2025
Mastering by Mike Marciano at Systems Two, Long Island, NY, August 2025
Production Assistant: Raphaella Hero
Photos of Emilio: Paula Sarmiento
Album design and artwork: Paula Sarmiento/ Patricio Vegazzi
Product Manager: Jan-Erik Grothe (Club del Disco Europe S.L.)