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!

Moshkiae DANCA DAS CABECAS Egberto Gismonti 1977 With Nana Vasconcelos

It is, sometimes, difficult to explain to anyone what something is ... you try to find words, and they are not exactly there. This is the feeling you get when listening to this album. I would recommend not looking for it because it is this or that ... because what you will hear will likely be very different.

The album has 2 sides, both long pieces, that have some divisions in them as there are individual titles for them, however, my way of listening to this is to take the first few seconds of the opening of this album, and forget anything else ... close your eyes, and let the images fly.

You start out with the feeling that you are in a rain forest and that you are hearing this and that, and a soft guitar just coming along, and eventually becoming the focus of the piece. But there are some touches here that are really neat ... those by percussionist Nana Vasconcelos as if he was the one creating all the animal sounds to help with the image of the whole thing.

The second side of the album is basically the same thing, but done on piano, and it is just as far out and neat. According to the album, it has 4 parts, though I have to suggeest that hearing this, I do not seem to notice the parts ... you just trip along with the music, the same as the firt side of the album, which has 6 parts listed, however, the CD only shows Side 1 and Side 2 as two long pieces, which I think are better suited, so we don't think we have to listen to this song or that song. Some themes, come back, in the acoustic piece on the guitar, but in general, the listening feel is hard to describe. I tend to consider it ... welcome to my living room, or in this case rain forest and here we go ... nothing else. We don't always here a piano within this context, but it is like it was out there in the middle of the jungle, and like the guitar on side one ... wow ... it fits, and you can't help just closing your eyes and follow it.

It is a really beautiful album, and one that in many ways broke the mold at ECM, since considering this jazz is an incredible stretch, but the freedom and movement of the work, suggests something else ... and the only word to describe it is ... the beauty of it all!

It is listed, often as "World Music", and I think that it is given that simply because it can not be described well enough to define it ... but what it really is, is by far one of the prettiest free form albums you will ever hear, and on an 8-string guitar, on side one and simply just a piano on side two with Nana Vasconcelos accompanying the whole thing.

A fabulous album, and one of the many that Egberto Gismonti went on to do ... and create something different for a lot of folks to listen to ... a very impressive player and his technique is exquisite and his touches are about the clarity of the notes, and not exactly following something musical ... I kinda like to think of this as improvisational material that is music, but will not adhere to anything musical that we can consider.

An ECM album that should be in everyone's collection. There aren't many albums that are so different and exquisite as this one is ... again, a fabulous work, and a beautiful listen. And very special!