Barney McAll's new album, Mother of Dreams and Secrets, is the cross-cultural musical journey of one of Australia's most inspirational jazz musicians. From Australia to Havana and New York, the award-winning pianist and composer has combined his love of jazz and Afro-Cuban sacred rhythms to pay tribute to the Santerian goddess, Yemaya ' the mother of all the world. 'I have always felt drawn to Yemaya so I took some of the rhythms used to invoke her, slowed them down and then applied my own harmonies and melodies to each interlocking part�, explains McAll. 'I first visited Cuba in the late 90s and experienced a Yoruba/Santerian ceremony honouring Yemaya. The music had such a profound effect on me that I may never recover!' McAll, who has been based in New York since 1997, received an Australian Arts Council grant in 2004 which allowed him to study and compose music in Cuba. 'While I was there I worked with a number of passionate and incredible Cuban percussionists. We recorded the rhythm tracks for Mother of Dreams and Secrets in Cuba amidst the vibrancy and energy of the Havana cityscape. /We did one rehearsal with Ramses (drums) out in the sun on his rooftop amidst the hustle and chaos of Havana, surrounded by washing on the clothes line and with the sound of local bands emanating from the square below. 'Our conga player, Yaroldy, didn�t make it to a single rehearsal. He turned up four hours late to the session, stripped down to his underpants, played one song then left to go to a rehearsal with Chucho Valdez. Two hours later he returned, stripped off again and finished the session. I have never heard anyone like him before. Amazing! The Cuban players are just so full of passion and fire' recalls Barney. 'I took the Cuban rhythm tracks back to New York and recorded the NY and Australian players on top� says McAll. 'Having people like Kurt Rosenwinkel and Billy Harper relating to the Cuban musicians on tape was incredible. There is also a great Aussie contingent on the album including Jamie Oehlers who was in town for a while, Matt Clohesy (bass) and Jacam Manricks (alto). The music unfolded exactly as I had heard it in my head. It really was an amazing experience. There were so many musical serendipities and coincidences that really helped the project come together.' Barney McAll grew up in Melbourne and studied at the Victorian College of the Arts. He has performed with numerous Australian and international artists including Gary Bartz, Vince Jones, Billy Harper, Jim Black, Josh Roseman, Ben Monder and Vince Herring. 'Impassioned' Los Angeles Times 'His music is utterly contemporary... A talented composer as well as a gifted keyboardist' Rolling Stone 'McAll's piano is always an enlivening influence, imbued with authority and great logic and as compelling as a finely honed short story' Sydney Morning Herald