Oct 24, 2019 8:03 AM
ECM and Manfred Eicher on the Search for the Sublime
A search for the heart of the ECM Records operation leads to a small, quiet space located on the second floor of a…
Drummer Hugo Medeiros (left), pianist Amaro Freitas and bassist Jean Elton perform on Rasif, which is due out Oct. 19.
(Photo: Courtesy Far Out)The rhythmic complexity of Amaro Freitas’ trio is dizzying.
After the Brazilian pianist’s talents were showcased working with his father in a church band, Freitas spent some time at Conservatório Pernambucano de Música. His stint there, though, was cut short because of a financial shortfall. It didn’t stop Freitas from figuring out how to find time to sit down at a keyboard—imaginary or otherwise—and learn the instrument.
His second leader date, Rasif (Far Out), features the performances of a bandleader who clearly got what he needed out of his truncated stay at conservatory, while incorporating a wealth of rhythms from Brazil and the influence of Chick Corea. Freitas is joined by bassist Jean Elton and drummer Hugo Medeiros on the recording, which is due out Oct. 19. Below is the debut of “Trupé,” the second track on the upcoming album.
“This song is a tribute to the Samba de Coco Trupé, a musical style and dance, which arises through the beat of the feet, while wearing wooden clogs, accompanied by percussive instruments,” the pianist said. “The style was created by Lula Calixto in Arcoverde, located in the Moxotó/Pernambuco region. In this composition, the piano works as a percussive element in an attempt to develop a melodic rhythm, inspired by the rhythm of the dance in the Trupé style.”
For more information about Freitas and his band, visit the Far Out homepage. DB
Fifty years ago, Manfred Eicher co-founded Edition of Contemporary Music, better known as ECM, and has issued more than 1,600 titles spanning jazz and classical sounds.
Oct 24, 2019 8:03 AM
A search for the heart of the ECM Records operation leads to a small, quiet space located on the second floor of a…
Wayne Shorter (shown here in a scene from the documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes) won three categories in the 2019 DownBeat Readers Poll: Jazz Artist, Jazz Album (for Emanon) and Soprano Saxophone.
Oct 21, 2019 5:36 PM
DownBeat is proud to announce the results of its 84th Annual Readers Poll.
Wayne Shorter is a huge winner in…
Christian McBride performs with his band New Jawn at the Chicago Jazz Festival on Aug. 31.
Oct 8, 2019 9:00 AM
Christian McBride believes in “paying it forward.” The bassist traveled to Aspen, Colorado, for a week in August to…
New York brass band Lucky Chops recently released its full-length debut.
Oct 18, 2019 9:23 AM
Maybe you’ve run into them shedding at a New York subway stop.
Brass band Lucky Chops recently issued its…
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah values cultural pluralism in American storytelling.
Nov 15, 2019 9:01 AM
