The Squid's Ear Magazine


Lisbon String Trio / Gil Goncalves: Merz (Creative Sources)

The Lisbon String Trio of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Miguel Mira on cello, and Alvaro Rosso on contrabass continue their recent string of collaborations with a fourth player, Portuguese tuba player Gil Goncalves joining to addd a unique complement to their strings, as Goncalves adds bass, blats, growls and unique timbres of upper register low brass.
 

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Personnel:



Ernesto Rodrigues-viola

Miguel Mira-cello

Alvaro Rosso-contrabass

Gil Goncalves-tuba


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UPC: 5609063405965

Label: Creative Sources
Catalog ID: cs596
Squidco Product Code: 27605

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded live on 6th November 2018 by Miguel Azguime at OÕCulto da Ajuda, Lisbon, during the CreativeFest#12

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Turning to some other recent (or upcoming) Creative Sources releases involving Ernesto Rodrigues himself, I first want to mention Merz - recorded in Lisbon last November, also as part of CreativeFest #12 - with tubist Gil Gonçalves joining the Lisbon String Trio for its tenth album (or perhaps eleventh, counting Rhetorica with pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro, which has yet to appear). Gonçalves (b.1983) has already joined Rodrigues in e.g. IKB & VGO ensembles, but hadn't been noted here yet.... Having a tuba join the Lisbon String Trio also recalls the trombone iterations, Intonarumori (discussed here in August 2017, as part of the original series of six albums) & Tactile (discussed last July, and what I've called the "most diffuse" in the series), as well as the trumpet concertante-style album From Faust with Sei Miguel (also discussed here in July 2018).

Of course, the latter involves a higher register, as most of the early Lisbon String Trio albums did, and so a more brilliant sound from the horn. However, presumably in part via mic'ing & mixing, Merz features the tuba quite prominently too, likewise lending a sort of concertante feel, in this case unusually so considering the instruments involved. The sometimes pointillistic strings are generally more active than the more restricted, often growling, legato tuba, but a fine balance is achieved in overall ensemble articulation & audibility nonetheless.... Indeed, such string & brass combos continue to appeal, and warrant further exploration - here in a more assertive mode that does sometimes recall e.g. Polyorchard (e.g. Sextet | Quintet as, once again, discussed here last July). Merz moreover seems to encompass both study & exhibition, making for a rather energetic & directly appealing "tuba album." It thus seems to be an album that could have wider appeal than any of the other (at least new) items mentioned in this entry (& with the possible, upcoming exception of Rhetorica, which I have yet to hear...)."-Todd McComb, Jazz Thoughts


Get additional information at Todd McComb's Jazz Thoughts

Artist Biographies

"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."

-Creative Sources (http://creativesourcesrec.com/creative_artists.html)
12/4/2023

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Born in 1958, studying guitar at the Academy of Music Amateurs, in the 70s, with Prof. Nagy. In the late 70 studying bass at the Hot Club, in the early '80s, with Prof. Zé Eduardo.

"Intrigue and permanent and persistent unease with stringed instruments, jazz and improvisation itself. During the last forty years, in concert, in private or in the studio, I had the honor of having played and learned (chronologically) Nuno Grande, Armindo Neves, Emilio Robalo, Celso Carvalho, António Ferro, Arthur Costa, Ze Bitch John Vinegar, John Lucas, Francisco Medina, Abdul moimeme, Rashiim Ausar Sahu, Patrick Brennan, Rodrigo Amado, Scott Fields, Francisco Trindade, Ernesto Rodrigues, Harvey Sorgen and Joe Giardullo.

Today, honor me play (and perpetuate my restlessness) with Rodrigo Amado, Abdul moimeme, John Lucas, Joseph Bruno Parrinha, John Parrinha, João Pedro Viegas, Alipio Carvalho Neto, Gabriel Ferrandini, Ernesto Rodrigues, Armando Gonçalves Pereira, Hernani Faustino, Rodrigo Pinheiro, Zé Lencastre, Louis Desirat, Peter Castello Lopes, Luís Lopes, Luís Vicente, Philip Sousa, Pedro Roxo, Johannes Krieger, George Lamprey, Marcello Maggi, Paulo Curado, Diogo Leal, D' Incise, Virginia and Eduardo Chagas. With some of my friends. I share my musical day in broader bands or ensembles, with other I highlight specific musical encounters and they are my entire curriculum." "

-JACC Records (http://www.jacc-records.com/en/musicians/miguel-mira)
12/4/2023

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Alvaro Rosso is a Portuguese double bassist, a member of Variable Geometry Orchestra, ZMVR 4tet, Orgonite, Croniques 3, and String Theory.

-Squidco 12/4/2023

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Gil Gonçalves, Tubist, Professor for Tuba and Euphonium

Gil Gonçalves was born in Samora Correia in 1983. He studied music at the Lisbon Conservatory of Music and at the Lisbon Superior Orchestra Academy with Sérgio Carolino. Later, he pursued his studies with FrançoisThuillier at the Amiens Music Conservatory in France. Gil has worked in master classes with professors Ilídio Massacote, Sérgio Carolino, Gene Pokorny, Anne Jelle Visser, Oystein Baadsvik, Mel Culberston, Miguel Moreno, Walter Hilgers, Roger Bobo, Oren Marshall, Samuel Hershko, Harri Lidsle e François Thuillier.br> He was semi-finalist on the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference 2006 in Denver, USA, in the categories Tuba solo and Jazz. In 2008 he won first prize (senior division) in the 1st National Wind Instruments Competition "Terras de la Salette" and was a semi-finalist in the Tuba Solo International Competition in Markneunkirchen, Germany.

After auditioning he was selected to join the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Mediterranée (France) in a tour in Turkey. He plays regulary with the Oporto National Orchestra, the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra. In other diferent music styles he plays in the world music bands "Kumpania Algazarra" and "Sarrabulho". He is a founding member of Dixieland band "On Dixie", electronic-acoustic band "Anisotropus" and collaborates regularly with jazz musicians Alípio C. Neto, Johannes Krieger and Ernestro Rodrigues, the most relevant project "Variable Geometry Orchestra".

Gil Gonçalves is professor of tuba and euphonium at Palmela Music Conservatory and University of Evora."

-Miraphone (http://www.miraphone.de/en/artist-details/details/gil-goncalves.html)
12/4/2023

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Track Listing:



1. Merz 30:23

Related Categories of Interest:

Creative Sources
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
lowercase, reductionist, micro-improv, sound improv, onkyo sound
Quartet Recordings
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
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