Mario Rua

George Haslam / João Madeira / Pedro Castello Lopes / Mário Rua: Ajuda

by Mark Corroto
March 17, 2021

Why would a listener consider Ajuda, a free jazz recording by the quartet of British saxophonist George Haslam and this Portuguese trio, to be a meditative production? Is it quiet? Not really. Is it a solo effort? Not at all. Is it focused inward? No, and yet, yes it is if we consider the synergistic effects of four improvising musicians performing in a simpatico flow state. Recorded on Haslam's day off in Lisbon from a working series he had scheduled ...