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Sei Miguel: Salvation Modes
BySubtly subversive, Salvation Modes seems to be all about extending the conversation about instruments, improvisation and listenability to include multiple musical personalities, all under the direction of Mr. Miguel. For example, the 18- minute "Cantata Mussurana" appears to hover around Pedro Lourenco's funky bass (hiccups to Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon") as singer Kimi Djabate introduces a quiet, resonant, moaning voice. Miguel's trumpet bleats unobtrusively, followed by a clambake of percussion, Ernesto Rodriguez's viola twitches and more recited and sung words from Djabate. It's fermentation but without an obvious outlet. We don't know where we are going with this music, and yet it keeps us listening, varied in its approach, thoroughly musical all the while outlandish in demeanor. Similarly, the 27-minute "Preludio e Cruz De Sala" uses tempered instrumentation in non- tempered ways, with dynamic ranges that can be ear- splitting when the music isn't approaching a kind of modest solemnity. Trombonist Mariam's blaring horn at times creates a kind of electrocution that extends the possibility of that normally brassy tonal instrument alongside Burago's plucky, spacious percussion. The music on "Preludio" also includes Mariam playing it relatively straight with ghostly guitar musings from Gomes before the leader pops in for some more parched, almost mid-'70s Miles Davis-like tones, tones that are stretched out in a way that gives new meaning to the phrase musical space.
Like many instrument-driven projects (vocals included) both in and outside of jazz and improvised music, Salvation Modes can become like an alternate-universe soul music, the sounds of each voice kindred spirits. Perhaps, hence the title.
Track Listing
Preludio e Cruz De Sala; Fermata; Cantata Mussurana.
Personnel
Sei Miguel, trumpet, finger cymbals, direction; Fala Mariam trombone, alto trombone; Pedro Gomes, guitar; Cesar Burago, percussion, radio, bandoneon, de Osaka, claves, agogo; Andre Goncalves, Hammond manipulation; Margarida Garcia, twin; Kimi Djabate, singer; Rafael Toral, modulated feedback; Ernesto Rodrigues, viola; Nuno Torres, alto saxophone; Pedro Lourenco, bass guitar; Luis Desirat, traps drums; Monsieur Trinite, bandoneon, de Osaka, ganza, afoche.
Album information
Title: Salvation Modes | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records