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Shelly Berg’s new recording Alegría [pronounced “Ah-lay-GRI-ah”] is aptly titled with the Spanish word for happiness. It is described as “buoyant joy” by JazzViews. Berg is a multi-Grammy-nominated arranger and orchestrator who has recorded with Arturo Sandoval, Gloria Estefan, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, and his arrangements on this new project as leader are similarly stellar. The album opens with “Home with You” showcasing Berg’s highly creative Cuban-born trio collaborators Carlitos Del Puerto (bass) and Dafnis Prieto (drums). Featuring jazz trio-playing at its finest, their incredible interplay is also beautifully displayed on “Marina Sunset,” and the title track “Alegría.” Berg’s delicate original “At Last” elicits gorgeous solos by Berg and Del Puerto. Special guest tenor saxophonist Melvin Butler is featured on the bluesy “Meatballs and Apple Pie” as well as the blazing “Red Rocks, Tall Cactus,” inspired by a spellbinding visit to the Grand Canyon. “The Joy” celebrates fond memories of childhood, followed by the effervescent “Bliss” that ends with an extraordinary cymbal solo by Prieto. The trio’s touching “When Next We Meet” is followed by a unique arrangement of Lennon & McCartney’s “I’ll Follow the Sun,” and the album closes with “Somewhere” by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.