In the early 2000s Denver saw a rare band emerge on the scene: a band that played old and new Brazilian music, Fusion Jazz, American pop and R&B, and originals inspired from all these different styles. The odd thing was they didn't just play these songs as covers, they often completely rearranged and reinvented them. The band was CRUZADOS! That is Portuguese for Crusaders. And, they literally were crusaders. At that time - and to this day - no one in the Denver music scene was taking liberties and rearranging music, much less from so many eclectic sources. The album Espaços is a snapshot of the raw vivacity and fearlessness with which Cruzados played. Listen to the infused Brazilian rhythms on Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car," or the Salsa arrangement of Sting's "Message In A Bottle." "Step Away" showcases the group's R&B and jazz roots, where the title track, "Espaços" is a vocalese in a Partido Alto style. Everything they do is something new, even if it's just a few chord substitutions - but usually it's much more. And of course, with a group whose singer/pianist has a background in jazz, the bass player is a Berklee School of Music alumni, and the drummer has roots in Trinidad, improvisation will be second nature! Personnel: Cristine Barbosa - keyboards, vocals Justin Francoeur - electric bass, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar Michael Joseph - drums Darren Ross - percussion, drums on "Fast Car"