Hernâni Faustino: Twelve Bass Tunes

It may come as a bit of surprise to learn Twelve Bass Tunes is the first solo recording by Portuguese musician Hernâni Faustino. Having already been heard as the anchor in the stellar RED Trio, Rodrigo Amado's Wire Quartet, Jose Lencastre's Nau Quartet and with musicians such as Lotte Anker, Jon Irabagon and Ernesto Rodrigues, to name just a few, this solo outing is long overdue.

The twelve tracks, recorded in January 2020, are each unique short stories that use all the tools Faustino has developed as an improvising musician. "Sequência" opens with notes plucked and left to reverberate against taut strings before moving onto a bowed passage that bristles with energy. The resonance he draws on with a piece like "Madrigal" calls to mind another bassist, William Parker, with Faustino's ability to draw from a blues-drenched gospel sound. He can also create an eruption of sound: "Triptico da Virgem de Lamego" opens with a bowed mayhem which transitions into weighty sawed sounds. His technique is on display throughout. "Serra das Meadas" is marked by speed and nimble fingers. Same with "EIA EIA," which showcases herculean strength and control. The final track, "Com Vénus," growls with bowed notes and tapping sounds that expand into an ominous sound that creaks and rattles not unlike a wooden boat at sea. Each of Faustino's short stories are well worth wading into.