Portuguese bassist Hugo Carvalhais (b. 1978) represents something quite rare in today’s music. Each new release is so infrequent that it seems to assume the significance of a passing comet, and his is a small but significant body of work, quite unlike anything else in contemporary jazz.
Ascetica is the fourth in a planned series of five albums exploring different aspects of time, space and being. Where Nebulosa (2010) examined the infinitely great and Particula (2012) zoomed in on the micro, Grand Valis (2015) dealt with the outer reality we perceive in everyday life. With Ascetica he turns his gaze inwards to a search for those small fleeting moments in which we sense the presence of something magical.
It is surely no coincidence that Carvalhais studied fine arts, and it would be a convenient cliché to describe his music as “painterly” if it weren’t so true. Appreciating Carvalhais’s arrangement of instrumental colours, his handling of light and shade and the consistency of stroke in his compositions, it is hard to see it any other way.
Tending towards flat colours, Carvalhais’s dark woody bass anchors the harmonic centre of each piece. Shimmering otherworldly electronics and Pinto’s organ drones create some inviting and occasionally sacred lustres, and as the triple reed frontline orbits freely around Carvalhais’ solid structures they usually make the boldest paint marks.
Rhythmically speaking the pieces are relatively static, but as Organum and Amethist Shot reveal, Carvalhais isn’t afraid to embrace a slick contemporary groove. Amongst the three contrasting horns Parisien’s elegant soprano is the perfect foil for the gruff Mockūnas, the Frenchman at his brilliant Lacy-esque best on the lyrical Penumbra.
Inspiring wonder and tapping into metaphysical realms, Carvalhais’ brilliant and singular ensemble take us on yet another gripping journey into uncharted territory.
Discography:
Organum; Neural Flandres; Oratorium; Prophetica; Penumbra; O Grande Definhador; Omnitonalia; Arcanorum; Amethist Shot; Mysteria (49.00)
Carvalhais (b, elec) with Emile Parisien (ss); Ludas Mockūnas (ts, cl); Fábio Almeida (as, f); Gabriel Pinto (p, org, kyb); Mário Costa (d). Various locations, October 2021.
Clean Feed Records CF589CD
