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MoFrancesco Quintetto: Piedra Solar
Aline Fraz?o's sublime vocals on "Tres Morillas" or Guto Lucena's flute on the pastoral "Persian Story" demonstrate that this band has an innate ability to hold the listener's attention without use of volume. The ensemble attack of "Olisipo" (the old name for Lisbon, where the album was recorded) has a rich Mingusian quality, whereas the words of Frederico Garcia Lorca, spoken by Jaco Loredo on "Vuelta De Paseo" give a dramatic edge to this short track.
"Start Flying Song" and "Mobocracy" are more straight-ahead, giving ample opportunities for strong solos by Guto Lucena and Jo?o Capinhar on tenor and Johannes Krieger on trumpet, but all the while Miguel Moreira's subtle drumming and Iuri Gaspar's essential piano keep everything moving along. The ruminative and beautifully arranged "Impressiones Intimas" written by Spanish composer Frederico Mompou is sensitively rendered by atmospheric acoustic bass, piano and drums, ultimately resolving into a hypnotic accelerando.
Once more, Jaco Loredo's spoken voice adds drama to the quietly menacing "Apareció" (oddly reminiscent of
Graham Collier
composer / conductor1937 - 2011
The quirky, foot-tapper "Ambos Mundos" concludes this genuinely exciting album, exuding South American rhythmic joy and augmented by uncredited wordless vocal chanting.
Benefitting from excellent compositions, arrangements and gifted musicians, this album of modern, fusion jazz has been carefully crafted and is, by the admission of the group, a conscious homage to the Iberian Peninsula. But whilst this Portugese-based group makes no secret of its debt to the heritage of Latin jazz, this album also perfectly illustrates the truly international language of the idiom. Though comparisons are odious, nevertheless think here perhaps of Chick Corea's ground-breaking Return to Forever 1972 album for ECM. This is an excellent, imaginative and instantly accessible album inviting frequently repeated plays and this is surely a group that demands a wider audience.
Track Listing
Ala’Ad-Din; Abraxas; Tres Morilla; Persian Story; Olisipo; Vuelta De Paseo; Start Flying Song; Mobocracy; Impressiones Intimas; Apareció; Miracolo A Milano; Mukambo; Ambos Mundos
Personnel
Francesco Valente: acoustic bass, electric bass; Miguel Moreira: drums; Iuri Gaspar: piano; Jo?o Capinhar: alto sax; Johannes Krieger: trumpet; Guto Lucena: tenor sax, baritone sax, flute, bass flute; Marcos Suzano: percussion; Aline Fraz?o: voice; Jaco Loredo: voice
Album information
Title: Piedra Solar | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced
Tags
MoFrancesco Quintetto
CD/LP/Track Review
Roger Farbey
Self Produced
Portugal
Lisbon
Graham Collier
Piedra Solar
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