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Jazz Articles about Gonçalo Almeida
Spinifex: Undrilling the Hole
by Vincenzo Roggero
Spinifex è un gruppo eterogeneo per esperienza e per provenienza geografica, con base ad Amsterdam, che con Undrilling the Hole giunge alla nona pubblicazione, la quinta con questa formazione, un sestetto con tre fiati, sezione ritmica e chitarra. A differenza dei precedenti album nei quali le composizioni provenivano dalla penna di diversi componenti del gruppo, in quest'ultimo la scrittura è tutta appannaggio di Tobias Klein, il fondatore nel lontano 2010 dell'ensemble, allora in forma di nonetto. Questa novità ...
Continue ReadingLuis Vicente: Come Down Here
by John Sharpe
Portuguese trumpeter Luis Vicente hits pay dirt with Come Down Here. Although he explores a range of styles from poised but unfettered outings such as Chamber 4 (FMR, 2015) and For Sale (Clean Feed, 2015), to fire music collaborations with the likes of tenor saxophonist John Dikeman on House In The Valley (Clean Feed, 2023), the free bop here perhaps plays to his strengths best of all. Simple themes offer abundant inspiration, allowing him free rein for a melodicism that ...
Continue ReadingRodrigo Amado: La Grande Crue
by John Sharpe
Inviting guests to supplement his core bands has proven a winning formula for Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado in the past, and the gambit bears fruit again on La Grande Crue. This time out, French pianist Eve Risser is the plus one, following in the footsteps of trombonist Jeb Bishop, trumpeter Peter Evans and pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach. She joins the outfit known as The Attic, completed by Amado's countryman bassist Gonçalo Almeida and Dutch drummer Onno Govaert. Amado's ...
Continue ReadingThe Attic & Eve Risser: La Grande Crue
by Troy Dostert
While it is always challenging to keep up with the prolific output of saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, one consistently sure bet is his Attic trio, which has been a working ensemble since at least 2017, with a series of stellar recordings that have helped stake Amado's claim as one of the premier free improvisers of his generation. Accompanied by drummer Onno Govaert and bassist Gonçalo Almeida, who joined the trio on its sophomore release, Summer Bummer (NoBusiness, 2019), Amado navigates his ...
Continue ReadingSpinifex: Undrilling the Hole
by Lawrence Peryer
The Amsterdam-based sextet Spinifex borrowed their name from a hardy Australian grass known for thriving in harsh conditions. For nearly two decades, they have forged original music from seemingly incompatible elements--mathematical structures, punk aggression, free jazz fire. Their ninth album, Undrilling the Hole, presents seven new compositions from alto saxophonist Tobias Klein that showcase the band's singular musical vocabulary. Mathematics shapes Klein's compositions, but not in obvious ways. “Nothing fancy," Klein explains. “The basic proportions=-twos and threes, sometimes ...
Continue ReadingThe Attic & Eve Risser: La Grande Crue
by Glenn Astarita
The Attic & Eve Risser's La Grande Crue is a multi-directional ride through the world of free jazz, featuring the talents of Rodrigo Amado on tenor saxophone, Gonçalo Almeida on bass, Onno Govaert on drums and French pianist Eve Risser. The Attic, renowned for its intuitive and spontaneous style, welcomes Risser into its musical ecosystem, crafting a dynamic and provocative album that unfolds across four extended works. The album commences with “Corps," a track anchored by a somber ...
Continue ReadingLuis Vicente Trio: Come Down Here
by Glenn Astarita
The Luis Vicente Trio's Come Down Here is a bold exploration of free jazz that morphs pure improvisation with hints of conventional structure. While it may not aspire to be a masterpiece, it offers an engaging and often exhilarating journey into the unpredictable realms of spontaneous musical creation. From the opening notes of the title track, Vicente's trumpet leads with fearless energy, charting a course through uncharted sonic territories. He is joined by Gonçalo Almeid on bass and ...
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