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Yotam Silberstein: Universos

By Fiona Ord-Shrimpton
December 4, 2022
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Universos is a trio album featuring

Yotam Silberstein

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Yotam Silberstein on guitar, accordionist and pianist

Vitor Gonçalves

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Vitor Gon?alves, with drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Dor, plus special guests. It is a balance of Silberstein co-ordinating joyful Latin wellbeing and moderated contentment, an acknowledgment of the wonderful and exalted beings and moments that make him, and us, grateful to be alive. Never boring, Universos is accessible, erudite and easy-going and a great album to support good vibes during festivities of all kinds. As mood makers go, Universos may help level winter chills, inside or out.

One can amicably suggest that Yotam Silberstein has been arriving for a long time, and it is high time more people realized he is already here. With Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes (other music apps are also available), there must be an easy way...right? Get thee to the socials, use them for good: Silberstein's music rochas jazz hard and his band combines cultures through musical alchemy.

Searching for a glint of positivism and a sound that is true in the jazz world is not as drawn out a task as toppling a carte blanche despot warmonger. Silberstein seems to be a rock in a stormy place. His music is full of ease and unaffected composure, formulating lines of sound from a deeper sanctum of musical delights that are not of this time, yet remain timeless and new. Silberstein encapsulates the jazz epitome.

Recently, having lost too soon the phenom

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco, and before that,

Michel Petrucciani

piano
1962 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Petrucciani, caliber musicians who cemented the foundations for giant jazz movements to resist destruction, it is heartening to know that there is a body of players who are exploring similar ground, developing musical identities that explore music akin to ensembles that included the aforementioned artists, including the guitarist

Bireli Lagrene

guitar
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bireli Lagrene, and that also support global musical exchanges through the extending arms of cultures as diverse as Brazil, Israel, Argentina and Switzerland via an American base, that is how new generations of jazz stay alive.

As for the special guests,

Itai Kriss

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Itai Kriss is a flutist fantastique, as dynamic as

Buddy Collette

saxophone, tenor
1921 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Collette. If one doesn't know so, the Kriss' album The Shark, (Avenue K Records, 2011) is a good place to start, a veritable "Get up" b'tutti shaker.

Gregoire Maret

harmonica
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Gregoire Maret is a discrete maestro who has taken the humble harmonica to jazz virtuosic levels, playing with

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock,

Toots Thielemans

harmonica
1922 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Toots Thielemans and

Romain Collin

piano
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Romain Collin, and

Carlos Aguirre

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Aguirre, whose "Milongo Gris" from his album Caminos, (Shagrada Medra, 2006), is a composition worthy of a place in Argentinian music history.

Album breakdown: "Brooklyn Frevo" is a spritely inspiration, based on the northeast Brazilian frevo rhythm, featuring Valerio Filho on pandeiro. It is light and happier than a shiny, perfect Brazilian. Kriss plays the right side of softly and shrill, and Silberstein's unison playing is synchronistic smiles. "Dada," dedicated to drummer and percussionist Daniel Dor, is a subtle and sensitive contemplation, with moments of dizzying euphoria; bliss with sticks—an opportunity to hear Silberstein ring out and let his band do the complimenting. "Samba Pro Vitor," a homage to band mate Vitor Gon?alves, is based on a samba, with a bewitching, pacey melody to woo new fans to Brazilian culture. One nod, of a few, to

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim, it is catchy and compelling. "Requiem for Armando" insists on thoughtfulness, and does so with beauty, fragility and sadness. It's a sincere dedication to two of Silberstein's heroes, the Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, and yet another jazz legend who left us,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea; both of whom passed during the Covid pandemic.

"Etude #2," based on a merengue rhythm from Venezuela, is a tune for pulling serious dancing shoes out of hibernation. "Parana (Entre Rios)," named after a city in Argentina, is a homage to Carlos Aguirre, inspired by the traditional chamam�� rhythm highly popular in the Argentinian province Entre Rios. Almost a solo song by Silberstein, with a highly supportive band and a gentle yet serious composition. "Candombe para Ruben Rada" inspired by the legendary Om��r Rub��n "Negro" Rada Silva, who popularized the candombe by blending traditional rhythms played on Uruguyan tamboriles drums, with rock, pop and jazz is the closest here to a

Bob James

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob James composition and is essentially a generous offering of upbeat fun, what's not to like? "Chor?o," a celebration of Brazilian choro, and a warm feature for Silberstein to sing out, with a tender Jobim essence, is an exquisite accordion feature a tango step away from the sound of

Astor Piazzolla

bandoneon
1921 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Astor Piazzolla, and a whispering flute from Kriss whose sound is as light a touch as a breeze on a Brazilian beach. A choro with a helping of the innocent beauty of "?guas de Mar?o." "Safta," a moving waltz in memory of Silberstein's grandmother who died aged 96, is a nostalgic duo with Vitor Gon?alves that feels as emotional as a

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

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

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden cinematic score. "A Night in Sevilla" validates a friendship between Silberstein and Sevillian guitarist Dani de Mor��n. Silberstein has a particular attachment to the flamenco tradition and a feel for the style that shows gravitas and respectful appreciation. The song "Tal and Gil," dedicated to Silberstein's sons is a charming lullaby to melt hearts with an extra dose of paternal awe effortlessly and emotionally conveyed by Gr��goire Maret.

A perfect accent to purlicue; Silberstein has a stellar band and a refreshing turn of phrase, Universos will add a little extra warmth to winter's austerity.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Brooklyn Frevo; Dada; Samba pro Vitor; Requiem for Amando; Etude #2 (merengue); Parana (Entre Rios); Candombe para Ruben Rada; Chor?o; Safta; A Night in Sevilla; Tal and Gil.

Personnel

Yotam Silberstein

guitar

Itai Kriss

flute

Gregoire Maret

harmonica

Vitor Gon?alves

piano

Daniel Dor

drums

Carlos Aguirre

percussion

Valerio Filho

pandeiro

Album information

Title: Universos | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Jazz and People

Yotam Silberstein �� Universos

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