Novoa, Eva

***Brooklyn-based pianist Eva Novoa returns with The Freedom Suite: Novoa / Carter / Mela Trio, Vol. 2 — the second radiant release from her compelling trio with saxophone icon Daniel Carter and celebrated drummer Francisco Mela. This marks Novoa’s sixth album with 577 Records. The trio first came together live in 2021, followed by a series of performances, including appearances in Cambridge (Boston) and later at the Brooklyn edition of the NY Forward Festival. The Freedom Suite is an homage to jazz titan Duke Ellington—particularly his masterful big band suites and legendary orchestra featuring Johnny Hodges and other luminaries who helped define an era of jazz greatness. In contrast, Novoa presents her Suite in a more intimate format: the piano trio. The album comprises twelve pieces—mostly brief—with a few extended tracks such as “#6 Free to Be Free” and “#11 Cyborgs.” For this recording, Novoa also steps in as a vocalist on several tracks, including “#2 Mainstream Media,” “#4 Big Grande,” “#5 Global,” “#6 Free to Be Free,” “#7 Dream,” and “#11 Cyborgs.” These pieces often feature a vocal dialogue between Novoa and Mela, whose expressive, word-infused style draws from rich Cuban traditions.