Half Notes: André Vasconscellos – 2 (2011)

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André Vasconscellos is, like Leonardo E.M. Cioglia, a forward thinking acoustic bassist and composer from Brazil. 2 is, you guessed it, his second album, but the first one released in the U.S. Heading up a five or six piece band (depending on whether Torcuato Mariano’s guitar is included), Vasconscellos leads them through eight originals, seven of which are his. His conception of Brazilian jazz isn’t seen through bossa nova, Jobim lens they we often associate with his country; there are many modern elements in his musical presentation that makes it sound closer to fusion than straight ahead although save for the guitar it’s all-acoustic. “Rome,” for instance, has a very strident strut, but also glides into different phases that never wander too far off the main melody. “Tourada” (see Youtube below) with it’s compelling theme, is another great example of Vasconscellos’ ability to craft a modern tune that leverages jazz without necessarily being jazz. 2 might be André Vasconscellos’ second album, but for America, it’s a great first impression.

2 went on sale May 17, from Mike Marshall’s Adventure Music.

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S. Victor Aaron