Variable Geometry Orchestra – “Ma’adim Vallis” (Creative Sources, 2018)

“Ma’adim Vallis” will be released on April 2, 2018 by “Creative Sources Records”. Album compositions were recorded by great experimental jazz ensemble – “Variable Geometry Orchestra”. The compositions by this huge jazz orchestra are especially expressive, passionate and interesting. The wide variety of styles, playing manners and sounds helps musicians to create original and evocative sound. Each musician has its own and original improvising style – spontaneous melodies, vivacious and striking solos, unusual and strange sounds, inventive musical decisions, modern and extravagant musical experiments, unpredictable stylistic waves, very colorful and innovative musical language – all these elements are gently combined together in “Variable Geometry Orchestra” compositions. The modern and fascinating sound is created by special effects, huge range of extended playing techniques and expressive episodes. Eclectic combinations between various music styles are masterfully synthesized together in one place. The main elements of avant-farde jazz, modern jazz styles intonations, experimental music and free improvisation – all these elements are organically fused together. Muusic of this orchestra has contrasting, expressive, emotional, passionate and interesting sound.

The compositions of the newest album of “Variable Geometry Orchestra” are based on masterful and interesting synthesis between huge amount of different music styles, manners, sounds and other elements of musical language. Free and turbulent collective improvisations, expressive and innovative musical experiments, original and interesting musical decisions, powerful and effective sound – all these elements are the most important elements of these improvisations. The music is based on independent improvising by all instruments groups. Each musician is improvising free, creatively and expressively. All the musicians try out extended and innovative ways of playing, vivacious and modern musical expressions and other musical language elements. The album compositions are based on interesting combinations between various jazz styles, moods and sounds. After silent and soft episodes there suddenly comes powerful and loud solos, turbulent and dramatic culminations, expressive and passionate melodies. It’s impossible to predict, there this music is going to turn next – each musician has his own and creative playing style, unique sound and specific playing manners. Abstract musical pattern, filled with separate and repetitive noises, is gently combined together with memorable and vivacious melodies, sharp and harsh timbres, touching and expressive solos, free and spontaneous solos or special effects of electronic devices. Harmonic, melodic and rhythmic patterns are individual and important, colorfully illustrated with spceial effects, unusual sounds and noises of various electronics devices. The masterful synthesis between free improvisation, experimental music, avant-garde jazz and electronic music helps musicians to create original and innovative sound. Even though, these compositions have a little intonations of experimental music and academic avant-garde, its basics are avant-garde jazz and collective improvisations. The most effective episodes of this album are the collective improvisations – the musicians reveal their masterful abilities, play masterful and fascinating solos, make spontaneous and innovative musical decisions, try out new playing techniques and extract strange timbres. Collective improvisations have turbulent, effective, touching and expressive sound, are based on dynamic and sudden changes and contrasts. The music of this album was played and improvised by huge group of masterful avant-garde jazz musicians and has innovative and modern sound.

“Variable Geometry Orchestra” musicians:

Ernesto Rodrigues – conduction (I, II), valiha (I), brazilian rabeca (I)
Maria do Mar – violin (II)
Guilherme Rodrigues – cello (I, II)
Ricardo Jacinto – cello (I)
Miguel Mira – cello (I, II)
Guillaume Gargaud – acoustic guitar (I)
Miguel Almeida – classical guitar (I)
Gianna de Toni – ukulele (I)
Hernâni Faustino – double bass (I)
Adriano Orrù – double bass (I)
João Madeira – double bass (I, II)
Bernardo Álvares – double bass (II)
Fernando Sousa – electric guitar (I)
Paulo Leal Duarte – electric guitar (I)
Abdul Moimême – prepared electric guitar, objects (I, II)
Miguel Cabral – violaika (I)
Karoline Leblanc – piano (I)
Maria Radich – voice (I, II)
Tiago Varela – melodica (I, II)
Silvia Corda – melodica (I)
Manuel Guimarães – melodica (I)
Carlos Santos – electronics (I, II)
Carla Santana – electronics (I, II)
André Hencleeday – megaphone (I)
Armando Pereira – accordion (I, II)
Paulo Chagas – flute, oboe (I, II)
Luiz Rocha – clarinet (I)
Bruno Parrinha – bass clarinet (I, II)
Nuno Torres – alto saxophone (I, II)
José Lencastre – alto saxophone (I)
Etienne Brunet – alto saxophone (I)
Paulo Galão – tenor saxophone (I, II)
Luis Guerreiro – trumpet (I)
Anna Piosik – trumpet (II)
Fernando Simões – trombone (I)
Eduardo Chagas – trombone (I)
Monsieur Trinité – objects (I, II)
Vasco Trilla – drums (I)
Pedro Santo – drums (I, II)
João Valinho – drums (I)