Reflection Of Another Self Milena Casado

• 1 THIS IS MY HAIR (!) 00:31
• 2 O.C.T (Oda to the crazy times) 03:59
• 3 Yet I Can See 04:53
• 4 Introspection I - I 01:44
• 5 Lidia y los Libros 03:24
• 6 Unconditional Love 06:29
• 7 Introspection II - Preguntas 01:11
• 8 Circles 05:18
• 9 Let's Paint the World 04:58
• 10 Introspection III - Courage 01:12
• 11 Resilience 03:58
• 12 Circles (Retrospection) 01:52
• 13 SELF LOVE 03:24
• Total Runtime 42:53

Info for Reflection Of Another Self

On her Candid Records debut "Reflection of Another Self," trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer Milena Casado delivers one of the most auspicious jazz debuts in recent memory. The album is a deeply personal exploration of identity, trauma, and self-discovery, rendered through an innovative blend of dreamlike electronic textures and outstanding organic performances.

Co-produced with mentor Terri Lyne Carrington and multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin, the album features an all-star lineup including harpist Brandee Younger, flutist Nicole Mitchell, pianist Kris Davis, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello. The core band showcases pianist Lex Korten, bassist Kanoa Mendenhall, and drummer Jongkuk Kim.

Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis's classic quintet while pushing into new sonic territory, Casado weaves personal narratives with sampled conversations, electronic atmospheres, and virtuosic improvisation. The album moves from examining fears and insecurities to expressing resilience and self-love, marking the beginning of a bold new voice in contemporary jazz.

Reflection of Another Self unfolds like a novel. “It begins with music that openly examines fears, melancholy, and insecurities,” Milena Casado said. “Then comes the bridge between understanding those and starting to accept and overcome them. Acceptance means finding compassion for the people who caused your traumas. That leads to tracks expressing resilience, courage and ultimately self-love, which I feel is one of the most important things – to love yourself to be able to love others too. We need to accept who we are and believe in ourselves.”

Born and raised in Spain, Casado found refuge in music while navigating life as a Black woman in predominantly white spaces. After earning a full scholarship to Berklee College Of Music, she caught the attention of jazz legends Carrington and Jack DeJohnette, launching her career in New York's demanding jazz scene.

Milena Casado, trumpet, flugelhorn
Kokayi, spoken word (track 2)
Brandee Younger, harp (track 5)
Nicole Mitchell, flute (track 5)
Val Jeanty, turntables (track 8)
Terri Lyne Carrington, drums (track 10)
Kris Davis, piano (track 12)
Lex Korten, piano
Kanoa Mendenhall, bass
Jongkuk Kim, drums

Produced by Milena Casado, Terri Lyne Carrington & Morgan Guerin

Please Note: We offer this album in its native sampling rate of 48kHz, 24-bit. The provided 96kHz version was up-sampled and offers no audible value!

Milena Casado
Called “a revelation” by The New York Times, Spanish composer, trumpeter, and flugelhorn player Milena Casado is quickly gaining notice for her unique and deeply personal approach to music. Both as a composer and instrumentalist, Casado masterfully blends the familiar and the unknown — rooted in tradition, yet reaching for something fundamentally new. Having already caught the attention of many renowned artists, Casado has performed with such greats as Terri Lyne Carrington, Aaron Parks, Kris Davis, Vijay Iyer, Jazzmeia Horn, and Jorge Rossy, among others. She has been featured at many of the world’s top venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note NYC, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival. An increasingly notable bandleader in her own right, Casado now leads her own working quintet, with recent performances at NYC Winter Jazzfest, Savannah Jazz Festival, and other major venues. Backed by this group, she is currently producing her debut album.

This album contains no booklet.