HERMETO PASCOAL — Slaves Mass (review)

HERMETO PASCOAL — Slaves Mass album cover Album · 1977 · World Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Matt
Released in 1976 and produced by Flora Purim who also provides vocals on 2 compositions and Airto Moreira ( Drums on all except Melting Pot ( Tacho) as well as doing the live pigs for Slaves Mass) Sounds strange but not as you would think for the use of the sounds of nature are a component in Hermeto Pascoals compositions and every one was composed by him on this Jazz masterpiece . Avante Garde at times but not in an extreme manner and with the use of his own native Brazilian music in the structures makes this one quite different and enjoyable fusion album. Hermeto plays Acoustic Piano,Fender Rhodes,Recorder,Clavinet,Soprano Sax,Flutes and Acoustic Guitar. Multi instumentalist and good at them all. Ron Carter provides bass on all except Melting Pot and as mentioned above Flora Purim and Airto Moreira do their parts as well with Raul De Souza (Trombone) and David Amaro on Guitars of any variety.Track one, Melting Pot does not have Ron or Airto but they are replaced with Alphonso Johnson and Chester Thompson.

Mixing Pot is a fairly rapid composition and is driven along with a Fender Rhodes current. Hermeto lets go with the Flute for a solo but what is different as with most of the tracks is the use of voices which could be described as Scat but with Brazilian influence and really does give the album such variation and a wonderful atmosphere. Now for Slaves Mass, track two with the the pigs and to be honest if I did not mention them you would not realise what they are till further into the composition as they are not obvious till then. The track is beautiful and begins with an accoustic guitar introduction and interspersed you will hear them. Voices again are used and the track begins what is like an ascent with the guitar riding the tune and then another change and simply wonderful use of the human voice. Track 4, Cannon is dedicated to Cannonball Adderley and Flute and Voices are major components and this is one of the most interesting Jazz compositions you could wish to hear. All up there are seven tracks on the original album and with the cd that I have there are three Bonus tracks. Track eight is one and Open Field with a sound just like it is titled and with a Brazilian rythmn and it just rolls along.with Hermeto's voice singing scat right through out,soprano sax,trombone,guitars and of course Airto Moreira's fantastic drumming from this album. There is not a poor track on this album.

If you like your Jazz original and different you would be hard pressed to go past this wonderful and distinct album. Masterpiece you betcha and one that has its own notch in Jazz.

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