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Rodrigo Amado Northern Liberties: We Are Electric
ByThe short answer is, it can and they will (well, maybe). This recording from 2017 finds the Norwegian trio of trumpeter Thomas Johansson, bassist Jon Rune Strøm and drummer Gard Nilssen dropping in on Portuguese tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado to record in Lisbon. While their mother-tongues are different, the Nordic triowhich can be heard in various ensembles including Friends & Neighbors, Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit, Cortex, Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, and Jon Rune Strøm Quintetspeak a universal language, one in which Amado is well versed. The saxophonist released music in 2021 with Joe McPhee Let The Free Be Men (Trost), and Alexander von Schlippenbach The Field (NoBusiness) with Rodrigo Amigo Motion trio. It is no surprise the quartet is fluent in this musical language. What is amazing is the free-flowing interchange of ideas and musical conversation heard on these four instantly composed tracks. From the incendiary opening "Spark," "Ignition" begins quietly enough with bowed bass and brushwork on cymbals and drums. Likewise "Activity" opens with quiet saxophone tones and muted trumpet over bowed bass and cymbal splashes. The quartet builds momentum, fueled by Nilssen's relentless attack. The drummer's engine powers the entire album, propelling both Amado and Johansson's horns to engage throughout. They alternate between call-and-response and flat out provocation. Each track, even the shortish 5½ minutes of "Response," is an entire feast of sound for the ears.
Track Listing
Spark; Ignition; Activity; Response.
Personnel
Rodrigo Amado
saxophone, tenorThomas Johansson
trumpetJon Rune Strøm
bass, acousticGard Nilssen
drumsAlbum information
Title: We Are Electric | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Not Two Records
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