On the active and experimental side of Creative Sources' acoustic configurations organized by label leader and violist Ernesto Rodrigues, this energetic chamber quartet with Carlos Bechegas on piccolo, flute & alto flute, Joao Madeira on double bass and Monsieur Trinite on percussion, explore the three-part title work through rapid action and highly textured reflection.
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Sample The Album:
Ernesto Rodrigues-viola, crackle box
Carlos Bechegas-piccolo, flute, alto flute
Joao Madeira-double bass
Monsieur Trinite-percussion
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UPC: 5609063408201
Label: Creative Sources
Catalog ID: cs820
Squidco Product Code: 35018
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded live at Cossoul, in Lisbon, Portuga, on April 4th, 2024, by Carlos Santos.
"After A tale unfolds (reviewed here last month), Ernesto Rodrigues and Joao Madeira return again, also with Monsieur Trinite, for Free to Open (recorded in Lisbon earlier this month). For this live outing from the Creative Sources Cycle, instead of adding three musicians (including two clarinetists) to the quintet lineup on their "instant classic" Derive (yielding consequent, smoother textures as an octet...), they instead pare down to a quartet (i.e. minus cello) with Carlos Bechegas (piccolo, flute and alto flute).
So whereas when reviewing Open in Finder (with Madeira and Bechegas) last November, I'd noted the long gap in the flautist's discography, thinking the release was an unusual event, there was already Secrets under Trees (with Rodrigues, both of these first new trio releases adding cello...), and then soon after, Echoing the Chorus of Life (also reviewed here last month) with Rodrigues and Bechegas and Carlos Santos on electronics....
Now there's yet more, and Free to Open comes off as a relatively experimental outing, sometimes in more static or repetitive textures, but also striving for new combos, including with Rodrigues increasingly featuring crackle box (alongside viola) for what can eventually seem like some vocalizing passages (alongside some throatier flute as well... and perhaps some other electric "small toys" from Trinite?). And note e.g. that Bruno Parrinha already played quite a bit of flute (alongside his usual clarinet) on Derive, so the substitution here of Bechegas is not as big an ensemble shift as it might even appear. (And speaking further of clarinet, let me also mention now another new quartet album from Rodrigues: Xafnikes synantiseis pairs Floros Floridis - born 1952, returning to Creative Sources already following Fields, as also reviewed here last month - with a string trio, recalling the first Lisbon String Trio "guest" album K'Ampokol Che K'Aay at times, the former recorded also last month in Berlin....
These kinds of ensembles have certainly become more frequent in improv over the past few years....) And the first track on Free to Open does open with an attractive and quiet pointillism then, recalling portions of Derive, indeed employing various of the wavelike exchanges that've become a feature of Rodrigues albums lately, but in turn also unusually opening to more in the way of soloing, with the second track then bringing more linear, layered or banded interactions.
There's again various zoomimesis involved, including into a sort of jungle vibe (becoming industrial-hybrid at times too). Both there and in the shorter final track (of this hour+ session), senses of building up materials over time are involved as well, yielding more extended arcs and independence of line (i.e. with lighter harmonic fill...). There's a general opening of texture, but also more in the way of stasis at times, perhaps stormy (e.g. with roiling bass...), but more often tending toward sparseness or setting melodic line against melodic line.
Free to Open thus does feel as though it's an "opening" for this intriguing quartet (and I have to wonder if it's implying the term "open improv" as well...), beginning from other recent work, but also soon striving for novel textures, moving into the unknown...."-" Todd McComb's Jazz Thoughts
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Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Ernesto Rodrigues "He has been playing the violin for 30 years and in that time has played all genres of music ranging from contemporary music to free jazz and improvised music, live and in the studio. His main interest shifted towards contemporary improvised and composed music. The relationship with his instruments is focused in sonic and textural elements. Electronic music was an early influence on his approach to violin playing, which challenges traditional romantic concepts of the violin/viola through use of preparations and micro tuning. Active in different settings on the Portuguese scene for free improvised music, both as a collaborator and in leading his own groups. Music for Dance, Cinema, Video and Performance. Has created the record label Creative Sources Recordings in 1999, which mainly concentrates on releasing experimental and electro-acoustic music." ^ Hide Bio for Ernesto Rodrigues • Show Bio for Carlos Bechegas "Flutist, improviser and composer, born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1957. For eight years he studied Classical Music and played with Carlos Zingaro and his electro-acoustic improvisation trio... He took several workshops on different musical languages such as jazz and improvised music with Steve Potts, Takashi Kako, Carlos Zingaro, Steve Lacy, Evan Parker, Richard Teitelbaum and Peter Kowald. He took Contemporary Classic Composition lessons with Emmanuel Nunes and Flute extended techniques with Pierre-Yves Artaud; he also studied Theatre and Multimedia. He has played solo, in duos and trios in several concerts and some of the most important festivals in the World, having released several CDs. As parallel activities, he has worked for several years in Music and Drama therapy with handicapped-children; in 1993/95 he organised two improvised music meetings; he took and directed music workshops on improvisation and composition with new technologies. He recently began to do Photograph exhibitions, and has created his author label "Forward.rec" to exclusively release his music projects." ^ Hide Bio for Carlos Bechegas • Show Bio for Joao Madeira Joao Madeira: "I was born in Lisboa and I've dedicated most of my energy to the doublebass since I was 12. When I went to study at the Conservatório de Lisboa my role model was doublebassist João Panta Nunes, and lately my studies were oriented by Jorge Lee, at Cascais. I have a degree in Musicology, investigation work on Fado's candidature to World Immaterial Heritage by UNESCO, and coordination of the Music Department at INATEL/FNAT. Since 1999 I have a strong activity (studio and performance) in several styles and genres, but improvised music and original composition (whatever the style...) are the places where my musical language riches its higher satisfaction and plenitude. In the recordings you are about to hear it's me who plays all the instruments. My passion is at the simple act of artistic creation. For me, music is all about musicians and genuine expression! It doesn't matter the genre neither the instrument per si. In theater I have collaborations (musician, composer, actor) with Companhia do Chapitô and Artistas Unidos, amongst others. I also love books (...) I've studied aesthetics and Portuguese literature since I remember, and love to read and write poetry." ^ Hide Bio for Joao Madeira • Show Bio for Monsieur Trinite Monsieur Trinité is based in Lisboa, Portugal, and is a member of Equinox Quartet, IKB, Potlatch, and Variable Geometry Orchestra. ^ Hide Bio for Monsieur Trinite
10/30/2024
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10/30/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
10/30/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Free To Open I 25:09
2. Free To Open II 22:25
3. Free To Open III 12:40
Creative Sources
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Chamber Jazz
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Quartet Recordings
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