Équator

In the high Andes mountains of Ecuador, the intense power of the equatorial sun beats down through thin air onto a grassland world fringed by glaciers and cloud forest. Every day is like summer, and every night is like winter. Within a 24-hour cycle, plants and animals adapt to both blistering heat and freezing temperatures–but how? Part of the Discovery Channel's award-winning Equator series, an epic production–capturing every detail in High Definition–that takes viewers on a 32,000-mile odyssey chasing the sun to some of the most extreme and diverse locations on the planet.

Percussionist Jim Brock gets first billing on this CD that he co-leads with Van Manakas, but Manakas' guitar is the main solo voice, he contributed all nine originals, and he is largely responsible for the date's success. The music ranges from being classical-oriented to funky to atmospheric, and there is even a slight amount of straight-ahead jazz. Manakas dominates the proceedings and is joined on various selections by Brock (whose colorful sounds from his percussion set uplift the music), keyboardist Gary Marcus, electric bassist Steve Kim, drummer Rick Dior, Phil Thompson on reeds, and Alan Kaufman on accordion. This intriguing set is worth giving a few listens to.