It was Mr Moon June Leonardo Pavkovic who suggested that Uruguayan electric guitarist, Spanish guitarist, pianist and violinist Beledo should make an album with flautist and tenor saxist Jorge Pardo and bassist Carles Benavent who played together in Chick Corea’s Touchstone project (and with Paco de Lucia). Rising to the challenge Beledo was searching for excellence in the company of exceptional musicians and he certainly got it here, Asaf Sirkis also bringing his considerable drumming skills to the table. I don’t know quite where to start with an incredible album that reaches great heights of musicianship in the empathic connections between the players, and also excels in composition, arrangement and production.
There is so much great music here that I need to enlist Beledo’s help here in his liner notes, He explains that Leonardo suggested opener ‘Djelem Djelem’ (7:20), an anthem of the Romanian Gypsies. Apparently, this originated as a visceral ballad; on this, and only on this Beledo plays flamenco guitar, in an amazing reinvention. Second track ‘Rauleando’ (7:15) is described by Beledo as contemporary tango (with a difference!) and is dedicated to the memory of Uruguayan tango master, Raúl Jaurena. ‘De tardecita’ (11:10) emerged from improvisational sessions with keyboard player Gary Husband on Fender Rhodes and Mini Moog. ‘Es prohibeix blasfemar’ (8:05) and album closer ‘Rodeados’ (16:45) also emerged from the sessions with Husband at La Casamurada castle studio where Gary was recording with Markus Reuter; he (Gary) had also appeared on Beledo’s album “Dreamland Mechanism”. ‘Flotando en el vacío’ (10:00) was in the repertoire of Beledo’s Uruguayan band Siddhartha which played between 1977 and 1982. Beledo explains that while jazz rock was his ‘thing’ at the time famous Uruguayan composer Héctor Tosar pointed out that the descending progression at the centre of the piece resembled flamenco music, an important moment in Beledo’s development as a writer and musician. ‘Candombesque’ (6:00), composed on piano, and ‘From Within’ (8:00) – Beledo describes Jorge Bardo’s playing “masterful” on it – complete a scintillating fusion album that will reward many listens now and into the future.
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