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Oscar Graça
César Cardoso: Dice of Tenors
by Hrayr Attarian
The captivating and cinematic Dice of Tenors is Portugese saxophonist César Cardoso's fourth release as a leader. Cardoso has brought together an international octet of accomplished musicians for an eight track tribute to six saxophone giants including John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, and Benny Golson. In addition to six standards either penned or popularized by these legendary tenorists, there are two Cardoso originals which are in the same spirit as the covers. Cardoso's haunting “Rafaela" is constructed out of ...
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by Angelo Leonardi
Cresciuto nella sempre più vivace scena jazzistica portoghese, César Cardoso giunge al quarto disco da leader in dieci anni, il primo in cui guida un organico internazionale con gli statunitensi Miguel Zenon al sax contralto (già ospite nel precedente Interchange di quattro anni fa), il trombettista Jason Palmer, il vibrafonista Jeffery Davis, il trombonista italiano Massimo Morganti, il bassista argentino Demian Cabaud e i connazionali Oscar Graça al pianoforte e Marcos Cavaleiro alla batteria. In questo progetto ...
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by Jack Bowers
Dice of Tenors is Portuguese-bred tenor saxophonist Cesar Cardoso's ardent salute to a half-dozen of the world's foremost tenor saxophone masters: Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Joe Henderson and Benny Golson. To carry out that purpose, Cardoso has convened an admirable octet on which he shares the front line with trumpeter Jason Palmer, alto Miguel Zenon, trombonist Massimo Morganti and vibraphonist Jeffery Davis. The group's hard-working rhythm section consists of pianist Oscar Graca, bassist Demian Cabaud and ...
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by Friedrich Kunzmann
Judging solely by the credits and scope of the Portuguese saxophonist César Cardoso's newest undertaking, one could expect a pretty conservative affair. The title of the album sums it up quite adequately. From Benny Golson to Sonny Rollins to Joe Henderson, Cardoso cuts through the oeuvre of some of the most distinguished masters of the tenor saxophone and presents their works in a new light. Of course John Coltrane's “Giant Steps" can't be left out of this equation. Sound familiar? ...
Continue ReadingMário Franco: Rush
by Chris Mosey
Portuguese bassist, composer and dancer Mario Franco, describes Rush as “a rock-inspired jazz album." It came, he says, from “an inner need of electric sounds." Franco, born 1965, started out playing classical music before switching to jazz. He is a dancer with the National Ballet Company of Portugal. His latest album is about how humanity wastes time while kidding itself that it uses it. “We are forever doing and forget just being," he says, ...
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
