Manel Fortia: Despertar

Bassist Manel Fortià is from Barcelona, Spain, but between 2016 and 2020 he lived in New York City. His experiences in both cities are the building blocks of the music he composed for this trio album which combines elegant Mediterranean romance with bristling big city energy.

The solemn resonance of Fortia's bass plucking on the opening track, "Dormir," resembles the sound of the late, great bassist Charlie Haden, an admitted influence. Fortia's notes could be an alternative version of Haden's introduction to Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman," but here his sounds lead into a swirling stream of melancholy piano from Marco Mezquida and rattling percussion from drummer Raphaël Pannier. The rest of the album was largely inspired by Fortia's time in New York, with occasional looks back to Barcelona. Several tracks such as "Curcular" and "Cresecente" have a restless, fast-paced flow which marries Mezquida's urgent, melodic piano to pulsing bass and drum rhythms. "El dia despues" has a rumbling tango feel, with Fortia's bass eloquently growling against classically formal piano dramatics. "Espiritual" is a blues-gospel drag, dedicated to New York's Harlem district with bass bulging against soulful piano chords and slow-walking drums.

On the lushly melodramatic "Saudades," Fortia takes the lead, soloing against rippling waves of piano. "Simple" moves at a fast tempo like other tracks but this piece has Mezquida hammering out patterns of clipped, staccato notes in a piece which references flamenco, ragtime and Bill Evans while leaving room for a deep, swaying solo by Fortia. "Aires de libertad" is a Spanish-tinged ballad with Fortia, in full throbbing voice, leading the trio through a melancholy romantic dance.

Manel Fortia has composed a set of emotional, impressionistic music for this album which is realized wonderfully by his expressive bass playing and the excellent work of Mezquida and Pannier. The three of them make this album a thrilling listen.