Gonzalo Rubalcaba's music is difficult to define since it pulls from a wide variety of cultural sources. In addition tojazz and Cuban music, his most pronounced influences stem from Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. Suffice to say that Rubalcaba's music runs the gamut from intense to delicate, strident to vulnerable. Together with his virtuosic trio, he embarks on a kind of interstellar journey throughout the known musical universe, citing the melodic statements of bebop, the rich harmonic vocabulary of 19th-century impressionistic composers, and quite often, the syncopated rhythms of Cuban dance music. Blending these together in a way that highlights both Rubalcaba's compositions and each player's improvisational talents, SUPERNOVA is a daring yet appealing release. Highlights include the hypnotic "Oren" and the meticulously arranged, blazingly fast tune aptly titled, "The Hard One".