Álvaro Imperial guitar, Perico Sambeat sax, Txema Riera piano, Héctor Tejedo double bass, Lluís Naval drums.

The calima – that meteorological phenomenon associated in the south with an orange fog which, according to the IEC dictionary, attracts “dust or salt particles” giving it “a characteristic smoky appearance” – has inspired to Murcian guitarist Álvaro Imperial with the title of his first solo album. Linked to the cities of Berlin, where he lived for some years, and Barcelona, where he is currently based, Imperial presents a series of self-penned pieces combining tradition and experimentation. In a quartet or quintet, he explores the creation of delicate, sensual music from different sides: an encounter between different forms and influences. Accompanying Imperial are a group of musicians of his generation, close travelling companions, and a very special guest, Perico Sambeat, who also took part in the album recording. Calima (Cru Records, 2022) is one of the great record debuts of the current season.