Carlos Barretto Trio: Silencios

European jazz hits its mark with the likes of Carlos Barretto (double bass), Mario Delgado (electric guitar) and Jose Salgueiro (percussion), a trio more honored in the headphones than in the speakers. A quiet group primarily (what would you really expect when the main man is on bass?), this trio is concerned with sonic soundscapes of jazz that skirt blues and sometimes Eastern flavors between the seemingly random crashing of tracks like 'Nao sei porque.' Not in the least new age, this is all Jazz with a capital zzzz. Not that it'll put you to sleep, but it Is very much mood enhanced. The mood? ........Thoughtful.

Hailing from Portugal, that's about all I can say otherwise, as the little info that came with the disc is in Portuguese (I assume), but they are eager to play some jazz festivals here in the USA, so anyone who wants a breath of original flavor in their live line up would do well to figure out the time zones and call.

Back at the music, for your listening pleasure, the CB Trio gives out with 1. Azenhas, 2. Silencios, 3. Liberdade para oscar, 4. Variacoes em la, 5. Danca do mar negro, 6. Lisboa que amanhece, 7. Nao sei porque, 8. Salmo, 9. Tensao u=ri, with intimate congruity, not relying heavily on the most versatile instrument (guitar) when it comes to melody lines. In fact, the latter half treats bass as main instrument, so you'll have to turn things up a bit. Once done, you'll hear a good set of bass n drum painters, brushing with less dark colors than you'd expect. Thanks to Jose's lively internal beat throughout, Carlos is given the light with which to work and think through lower, more economic passages that are seldom heard in the mainstream jazz of today.

But first, you must get through Mario's half. The more accessible songs are first, gradually getting you used to bass and a reliance on percussion. Already in the 9 minute starter 'Azenhas' there is a tendency to give Mario's guitar prominence, followed by a very deft handling of bass from Barretto near the 6 minute mark. I had to look within the cd booklet to make sure there was no guest violin or cello credited. No. That's all Carlos, working his stringed magic.

The running time is almost exactly an hour, time which flies before you know it. Well worth a listen for those out of the ordinary.

www.carlosbarretto.com