Monday, January 4, 2010

Rodrigo Amado, Portuguese Tenor in Good Form on "The Abstract Truth"

Rodrigo Amado shows once again that he is an important new voice in the free-er stratosphere of improvisation with an excellent album The Abstract Truth (European Echoes). He is joined by two first-rate improvisers, bassist Kent Kessler and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. Both sidemen have made their marks in the past decade or so, Kessler as the solid bassist with Hal Russell's NRG Ensemble and others following Russell's death; Norwegian Paal Nilssen-Love with Didrik Ingvaldsen, Frode Gerstad and Chris Potter.

This is a focused improvisational romp. Amado plays great sounding tenor and baritone here, with a sure conceptualization of what notes to play when. The rhythm team stays right with him for results that catapult this session to the high levels of some of the best free trio dates I've heard of late.

Amado has a mature approach and we can only expect him to get even better as he progresses. He is someone you need to hear if you have an interest in the improv music of today.

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