Moshkiae
SOL DO MEIO DIA Egberto Gismonti 1978
(Side 1) Palacio de Pinturas with Ralph Towner (Side 1) Raga with Nana Vasconcelos and Colin Walcott (Side 1) Kalimba with Nana Vasconcelos
(Side 2) Baiao ... Mudanca with Ralph Towner, Nana Vasconcelos, Colin Walcott and Jan Garbarek
Just like the previous album (Danca das Cabecas), this one also has a feeling of "letting go" and we are just along for the ride. I'm not sure, that it matters where the music goes, since in this case it is impossible to describe what kind of music it is, as it has no form or ideological concept riding on it ... simply, another exceptional example of the free form ability that Egberto Gismonti show us all, and now, a year later from the previous album, you get the feeling that others wanted to be a part of it, and ... goodness me ... they improve it!
I think, can't say for sure, that the person that helps this so much is Nana Vasconcelos, with his touches on various percussive instruments that create an incredible atmosphere that is not always something that is done in almost all music ... you get the feeling that you are "there" with them, and that is such a special feeling ... this is very far from someone doing a solo ... very far ... and in the end, you end up feeling that no solo is needed here ... you just want to experience this incredible atmosphere and where these folks take you ... which, I imagine is so improvised, but it is focused so beautifully.
Coracao (Side 1) is all about the piano, and it is quieter at the start, and if there is a touch that is special here, it is that you don't feel like this is a concert hall, or any such idea ... it feels like this is home! And Egberto is simply just touching the keys as if to find a continuum for his work, which in the end, is all there already, and there is no form or idea to carry it any further so we think that the music fits this or that ... free form, of the highest quality, and a free form that has so much peaceful feeling, that you can not exactly formulate anything in your head, except to just be quiet and listen ... and where it goes ... feels like everywhere!
(Side 2) ... starts with the guitar and you can hear Ralph Towner adding to it, and then Nana Vasconcelos starts voicing along ... it makes you think this is music of the spirit and then some! And here comes, of all things, Jan Garbarek, and it is so gentle and quiet that is makes the whole thing even better. Generally, in a lot of jazz, some of the instrumentation makes a point of stating ... I'M HERE ... and you don't get that feeling here, and it feels just right and well designed/defined. And it matches the mood and feel of the whole thing ... I suppose the saxophone makes this piece sound a bit more like "jazz", but I am not the one to define that ... it doesn't feel like that for me, as it has that improvised feeling that you don't know what is around the corner ... but even when it seems like it doesn't fit ... it does! Crazy!!! And an incredible listen. After Jan's moments, we get Ralph Towner along with Egberto Gismonti, and this, is really a special thing ... they support each other so well, and both are not afraid to go somewhere else, so you don't get the idea that here comes a song ... there is no song here ... just plain music! And we're not even half way into this long piece!!!!! And the neat thing is coming up with Nana Vasconcelos and Colin Walcott having some fun in the rain forest ... in the middle of nowhere, so to speak ... and you hear the birds sing in between ... that's how easy it is to imagine something or other with this ... it is that clear and special. And towards the last part the solo guitar does not seem out of place ... it just feels like a fitting end to something so special!
A highly recommended album for any collection out there, specially one that likes adventurous music and stuff that defies description and definition. It's not every day that you get to hear something this good and special ...
Too many GIBLOONS to rate this album!