Artist.......: Filipe Melo Trio
Album........: Debut
Label........: Clean Feed
Genre........: Jazz
Catnr........: CF048CD
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: Nov-27-2005
str.date.....: Nov-00-2005
quality......: VBR/44,1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: www.cleanfeed-records.com
track title time
01. Debut 04:48
02. I Got Rythm 02:52
03. Pensativa 06:59
04. Isn't She lovely 05:06
05. Strictly Confidential 05:20
06. Jingles 05:27
07. That Old Feeling 07:18
08. Sweet Georgia Brown 05:12
09. Jessica's Day 08:16
10. Memories Of You 06:05
Runtime 57:23 min
Size 76,7 MB
Release Notes:
The Portuguese jazz scene has experienced an
unprecedented high level of activity as of late.
Both the number of musicians and the quality of
their music has substantially risen, and jazz
recordings have been reflecting that evolution. One
of the most amazing aspects of the Portuguese
market, which is still small, but ever expanding,
is the variety of projects that are currently being
worked on.
Debut appears in this context. Filipe Melo has
chosen Bruno Santos and Bernardo Moreira to join
him on this date. The group's formation has a very
specific setting: piano, guitar and double bass: a
choice that creates the mood of a chamber music
ensemble. The drumless trio is the ultimate test
for a group of this kind. By choosing two
well-known musicians from the Portuguese jazz
scene, Filipe Melo has put together a group with a
strong personality. In fact, each of these three
musicians leads his own projects. These musicians
have also recorded their own albums.
The repertoire is varied and attractive: standards,
Stevie Wonder, Clare Fischer, Bud Powell, Wes
Montgomery, Quincy Jones, George Gershwin, and an
original blues by the pianist. Without any
prejudice, Filipe Melo, who is one of the few to
master the references of that style, takes over the
jazz universe that he loves. Yet, he displays a
very distinctive personal mark in his phrasing, in
the arrangements he writes, and in the group's own
sound. A groupsÆs musical personality should not be
imposed by exterior considerations; it should
simply correspond to a genuine expressive impulse.
So it is very important to have a great deal of
conviction in order to sound musical and genuine.
That is precisely the case with Filipe Melo. The
many references to these kinds of groups do not
frighten him. Debut is not the expression of a
certain style, but of a pure and simple joy in
music.
Although this record is a dΘbut, the album displays
maturity, because it is concise, because of his
control of dynamics and because of the clarity of
the phrasing. In this context, the arrangements
assume a crucial role. The overall quality of the
performance relies on the freshness of the
arrangements, thereby escaping predictable
solutions such as theme-solos-theme.
This CD has many qualities: the expression and good
taste of the reharmonizations, the quality of the
voicings, and a very secure time feel. Some
specific examples, the accuracy of the kicks, the
excellent guitar-piano unison and a finely-set
tempo in ôDebutö; the drive of the rhythmic
section, the arrangement and the solo chorus of
stride in ôI Got Rhythmö; the mood and the bass
solo in ôIsn't She Lovelyö; ôPensativaö, the
perfect vehicle for the lyricism and phrasing of
Bruno Santos; the presence of Bud Powell in
ôStrictly Confidentialö; the tribute to Wes in
ôJinglesö; ôThat Old Feelingö played well at a very
challenging tempo - and the pauses in the coda; the
groove of ôSweet Georgia Brownö, and the tribute to
Monk by quoting ôBright Mississippiö; the bluesy
solos in ôJessicaÆs Dayö; and finally, ôMemories of
Youö, a beautiful and instrospective solo piano
piece, displaying a comfortable and well-settled
tempo.
The listener is now free to discover other great
moments on this Debut. This album is a genuine
starting point, because many others will certainly
follow it. We will be expecting them.
Enjoy ...