Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » Stories of Friendship and Family Ties: The Gonzalez Clan Rides Out

Stories of Friendship and Family Ties: The Gonzalez Clan Rides Out

By Eyal Hareuveni
September 20, 2013
View read count

The family unit of trumpeter

Dennis Gonzalez

trumpet
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Dennis Gonzalez and his sons bassist

Aaron Gonzalez

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Gonzalez and drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Stefan Gonzalez, known as Yells At Eels, has been operating since 2000. Dennis González played and recorded with countless innovative musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, and in recent years solidified his musical bonds with Polish and Portuguese musicians. His sons, who often work independently, are half of Portuguese guitarist

Luís Lopes

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Luís Lopes' Humanization 4tet. These two albums demonstrate how family ties and close friendships are transformed into great music.

Dennis González Yells At Eels featuring Aakash Mittal

Colorado at Clinton

Ayler Records

2013

Alto saxophonist

Aakash Mittal

saxophone, alto
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Aakash Mittal was a childhood friend of the González brothers while his family resided in Dallas. He studied music with saxophonist

Rudresh Mahanthappa

saxophone, alto
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudresh Mahanthappa and percussionist

Ravish Momin

percussion
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ravish Momin, visited the Indian subcontinent and developed his own East Indian-tinged musical language. This reunion with the González family was recorded over two days in late 2011 in Dallas.

It was a very intense and emotional meeting. Mittal's serpentine sax soars fits beautifully into the emphatic and powerful interplay of Yells At Eels on the Dennis González-penned "Devil's Slide." Dennis González's other compositions focus on the the expanded sonic palette and depth that Mittal introduces to the trio, often in an energetic mode with the exception of the fascinating sound poem "Constellations on the Ground."

Mittal proves himself as a varied improviser. His playing can be muscular and intense as on the "Wind Streaks in Syrtis Major," where he exchanges heated solos with Dennis González. But his two compositions, "Shadows" and "Shades of India," are the the most remarkable. Both stress the melodic and lyrical side of the quartet and emphasize his own Indian-informed playing, still filled with intense tension and characterized with arresting ability to sketch a story. Both compositions unfold patiently—a meditative introduction of the theme, a playful exchange of improvised solos on the theme till the inevitable cathartic climax and a simple, reprise of the theme; concise versions of the form of the traditional Indian raga.

Luís Lopes' Humanization 4tet

Live in Madison

Ayler Records

2013

This is the third release of the 4tet after the self-titled and Electricity (Clean Feed/Ayler, 2008/2010) and was recorded at the end of a ten-dates East Coast tour in Madison, Wisconsin. Though the 4tet is credited as guitarist

Luís Lopes

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Luís Lopes' project it operates as a band with no leader. This recording present the quartet in full gear, bursting with flowing energy and passion, presenting its own blend of fiery free jazz, muscular funk and bluesy hard bop.

Within this energetic and inspired performance there are variations. The only cover,

Arthur Blythe

saxophone, alto
1940 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Arthur Blythe's "Bush Baby," features the soulful post-bop roots of the quartet members. Lopes' "Jungle Gymnastics" features himself in an intense, uncompromising interplay with tenor saxophonist

Rodrigo Amado

saxophone, tenor
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Rodrigo Amado that references the raw one of

Peter Brötzmann

woodwinds
1941 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann and

Sonny Sharrock

guitar, electric
1940 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Sharrock in the seminal

Last Exit

" data-original-title="" title="">Last Exit. The tight, telepathic rhythm section of the González brothers propel Lopes' distorted guitar lines on "Long March For Frida Kahlo" and Amado's powerful hard-bop soloing on "Two Girls" , melting supple, funky pulse with the direct and rough playing of Lopes and the muscular one of Amado. The quartet closes with the volcanic and dark "Dehumanization Blues," a vehicle for explosive solos by all the quartet members.

Tracks and Personnel

Colorado at Clinton

Tracks: Devil's Slide; Shadows; Wind Streaks in Syrtis Major; Shades of India; Constellations on the Ground; Dokonori Shīīto.

Personnel; Dennis González: C trumpet, Bb cornet; Aakash Mittal: alto saxophone; Aaron González: double bass; Stefan González: drums.

Live in Madison

Tracks: Bush Baby; Jungle Gymnastics; Long March For Frida Kahlo; Big Love; Two Girls; Dehumanization Blues.

Personnel: Luís Lopes: electric guitar; Rodrigo Amado: tenor saxophone; Aaron González: bass; Stefan González: drums.

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Chris Thile: Bach - Sonatas & Partit...
< Previous

Live At "A Space" 1975
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.