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Luís Vicente 4tet: House In The Valley

By Mark Corroto
March 29, 2023
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There is a synergy in simplicity and, with the Luís Vicente 4tet, a simplicity which comes from the synergistic effects of this unpretentious quartet. The four musicians—Portuguese composer, leader & trumpeter

Luis Vicente

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Luis Vicente, Dutch drummer

Onno Govaert

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Onno Govaert, and the Americans, tenor saxophonist

John Dikeman

saxophone, tenor
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">John Dikeman and bassist

Luke Stewart

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Luke Stewart—assembled for a series of concerts in Portugal in 2021. This recording was captured in Caldas da Rainha on July 19th. The simplicity here is the same honesty we hear in the early recordings of

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman and austere sounds of Albert Ayler's music.

Previously, three of the musicians have formed ensembles in various combinations, Vicente and Dikeman in various quartets, including the Twenty One 4tet with Govaert and

Wilbert de Joode

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Wilbert de Joode. The same for Vicente and Govaert, in trios and quartets, and the Govaert-Dikeman connection plus Jasper Stadhouders gives us the trio Cactus Truck. The addition of Stewart (Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Irreversible Entanglements, Luke Stewart's Silt Trio) adds a certain energy to the affair. Not that Stewart's bandmates have ever lacked energy in their performances. It is just that the bassist brings a passionate muscular approach which complements the others here quite well. Vicente's compositions, inspired by his daughter, hearken back to his own childhood and his carefree gamboling in meadows and valleys. In other words, an innocent freedom as expressed in insouciant free jazz. Together Vicente and Dikeman resemble the connection Ornette Coleman had with

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry and the one Albert Ayler shared with

Donald Ayler

trumpet
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Ayler. They continuously swivel and spin around each other while Stewart and Govaert keep time, also pressing on the accelerator. Captured within these two lengthy tracks are both roaring energy blasts and meditative pauses which all launch from Vicente's compositions and mushroom into extended improvisations and soloing.

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Track Listing

Anahata + Little Dance; Luísa's Laugh + House In The Valley.

Personnel

Luis Vicente

trumpet

John Dikeman

saxophone, tenor

Luke Stewart

bass, electric

Onno Govaert

drums

Album information

Title: House In The Valley | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Clean Feed

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