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Alma Tree: Sonic Alchemy Suprema

By Karl Ackermann
January 31, 2024
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New York native Ra Kalam

Bob Moses

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Moses grew up in the same building as

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Roach,

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey and

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones. Early on he saw performances by many of the best jazz drummers in history, including

Roy Haynes

drums
1926 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Haynes,

Rashied Ali

drums
1935 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali,

Milford Graves

drums
1940 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Milford Graves,

Billy Higgins

drums
1936 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Higgins, and

Ed Blackwell

drums
1929 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Blackwell. As a teenager in the mid-1960s, he played with

" data-original-title="" title="">Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Moses was not only destined to be a drummer; he had soaked up a variety of jazz styles and sub-genres that lent themselves to looking beyond convention. On Sonic Alchemy Suprema, Moses introduces the trio Alma Tree consisting of three drummers/percussionists: Barcelona's

Vasco Trilla

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Vasco Trilla, with whom Moses has recorded two albums, and

Pedro Melo Alves

drums
b.1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Pedro Melo Alves, a force in Portugal's creative music resurgence.

In his long career, Moses has recorded or played with

Larry Coryell

guitar
1943 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Coryell,

Gary Burton

vibraphone
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Burton,

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman,

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny,

Steve Swallow

bass
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Swallow,

Jack DeJohnette

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack DeJohnette,

Adam Berenson

synthesizer

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Berenson,

Todd Rundgren

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Todd Rundgren,

Arild Andersen

bass, acoustic
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Arild Andersen and many other top artists. Trilla has recorded two dozen albums as a leader/co-leader. Among his collaborations are projects with

Tim Daisy

drums
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Daisy,

Samo Salamon

guitar, electric
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Samo Salamon,

Mars Williams

saxophone
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Mars Williams, and

Susana Santos Silva

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Susana Santos Silva. Alves too has played with Silva, is a member of the

Luis Vicente

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Luis Vicente Trio and leads the Omniae Ensemble. He has recorded nine albums as a leader.

In this free setting, the percussionists retain the primitive form of communication within a sophisticated work of art. The deft use of gongs, cymbals and toms on "Opening," chants, hand percussion on "Alma Ra Kalam," and wooden percussion on "An Eerie Garden Sighting" provide a sense of the variety the drummers create. The trio employs complex rhythmic structures paving the way for unique musical expressions. The vast majority of these fifteen improvised pieces consist of polyrhythms and tones but they nevertheless have a musicality to them. Where the three reed players participate (on five tracks), the music takes on some reverse engineering. The saxophones and clarinet assume the role of accenting the work of the percussionists.

Alto saxophonists

Joao Pedro Brandao

saxophone
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Joao Pedro Brandao and

José Soares

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">José Soares, and

Julius Gabriel

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Julius Gabriel on tenor are situated left, right, and center, as are the drummers. The surround sound adds texture and a live feeling. The reed players' roles shift across the pieces; "One With Infinite Space" leans toward droning, while "Prayer" is more melodic. Brand?o adds flute on the latter of the two. "Dusk To Dawn Animalia" places the sextet deep in an abstruse, free improvisation. "Dance of the Celestial Madmen" has a beautifully constructed, primordial air.

Solo drum/percussion albums are unconventional; a trio is almost unheard of. In this spontaneously created music, Moses, Trilla, and Alves avoid all the obvious pitfalls this setting presents. In the rhythmic explorations of Sonic Alchemy Suprema, the trio and their guests are transcendent, as is the diversity of the music. The artists seamlessly fuse their individual talents and formidable personalities, crafting a performance that resonates with profound and surprising interchanges.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Opening; One With Infinite Space; Alma Ra Kalam; An Ominous Odyssey; Prayer; An Eerie Garden Sighting; High Spirits; Dusk To Dawn Animalia; Cosmic Weaving Loom; Plate Waltzing; Alma Pedro; Animal Instinct; Dance of the Celestial Madmen; Alma Vasco; Soaring Leaf.

Personnel

Bob Moses

drums

Vasco Trilla

percussion

Pedro Melo Alves

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Bob Moses: percussion; Vasco Trilla: drums; Pedro Melo Alves: percussion; Jo?o Pedro Brand?o: alto saxophone, flute (2, 5, 8, 13, 15); José Soares: alto saxophone (2, 5, 8, 13, 15); Julius Gabriel: tenor saxophone (2, 5, 8, 13, 15).

Album information

Title: Sonic Alchemy Suprema | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Carimbo Porta-Jazz

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