Grammy-nominated and Juno-winning saxophonist Luis Deniz has announced the details of his debut album as a leader. El Tinajón brings together the rich cultural influences of Deniz’s upbringing in Camaguey, Cuba, and his later life in Toronto. The album’s nine original compositions are imbued with Afro-Cuban folkloric influence and accentuated by the sax player’s high-powered musicality. Described as “wistful, emotionally complex and fashioned with powerful improvisation,” the recording pays tribute to Deniz’s beginnings and reflects on the sensation of longing and its relevance to his international identity. “El Tinajón is the name of a clay pot that was brought to Cuba by the Spanish, in the early 1500s,” Deniz explains. “It was originally used to collect rainwater in the Spanish-style open patios. Not too long after that, the Tinajón became the trademark of the province of Camaguey, an insignia of sorts.”