Live recording on January 26th 2023 by Claudio Rego at SMUP, Parede.
Mixed and mastered by Flak.
Graphic design by Carlos Santos.
Cover photography by Ernesto Rodrigues.
Group photography by Nuno Martins.
Production by Ernesto Rodrigues.
REVIEWS
La scène improvisée portugaise est devenue incontournable au fil des années pour sa musique de chambre expérimentale et ses multiples projets rassemblant un énorme pool de musiciennes – musiciens à géométrie variable avec un sens profond du collectif. Ernesto Rodrigues est sans doute un de ses plus remarquables catalyseurs tant par le nombre et la diversité des groupes auquel il participe que par la publication systématique d’enregistrements de qualité via son label Creative Sources. Outre Ernesto au « violon » alto et au crackle box, on note la présence de ses collaborateurs habituels tels que Nuno Torres au sax alto, Bruno Parrinha à la clarinette basse, João Madeira à la contrebasse, Carlos Santos au synthé modulaire et José Oliveira à la percussion. Luisa Gonçalves et Flak complètent cet ensemble Suspensão au piano et à la guitare électrique respectivement. Cet Impromptu sonne comme une œuvre très cohérente d’une grande diversité sonore. L’imbrication des interventions individuelles fonctionne à merveille, chacun se détachant un court moment de l’ensemble ou agit en filigrane. La dynamique et le sens égalitaire du collectif sont les maîtres mots de l’ensemble Suspensão. Miasmes, bourdonnements, notes égarées, interventions isolées, vibrations, hésitations, frétillements de l’archet, coups de bec, fragiles glissandi ou bruissements persistants, micro frappes percussives, toutes ces figures de style et sons spontanés créent une trame, un patchwork mouvant où pointent des directions subites, des changements de cap ou une renouvellement complet de l’ambiance sonore. Une idée émise par l’alto aboutit à une friction de la guitare, des grincements engendrent des clusters au piano qui s’évanouissent au profit d’un léger fracas percussif ou une vibration électronique. Au fil de l’improvisation unique au titre improbable, l’éclairage et la perspective se modifie comme si on pénétrait un autre univers. En sollicitant une myriade de sons possibles au sein de leur instrumentarium, les huit improvisateurs de Suspensão créent un momentum délicat et insaissable tout en focalisant notre écoute. trente-cinq minutes qui s’échappent comme un rêve. Un merveilleux moment de musique improvisée éminemment collective. Jean-Michel van Schouwburg (Orynx)
[...] Although violist Ernesto Rodrigues and guitarist Flak from Lopes’ tenet are also part of the Suspensão octet on Impromptus (CS 773) the music is as hushed as Echoism is boisterous. A single, almost 35 minute improvisation, whose 15 word title is nearly longer than the music. Itself, it confirms Portuguese improvisers’ versatility. Which frequent silent intervals, the evolving track alternately connects and separates timbres that suddenly arise and just as quickly vanish. The introduction matches Carlos Santos’ synthesiser washes with Bruno Parrinha’s bass clarinet burbles as spiccato string vibrations, woody clanks and triangle pings from percussionist José Oliveira and Luisa Gonçalves’ occasional piano chords decorate and disrupt the exposition. One third of the way along a combination of tougher guitar frails and Nuno Torres’ alto saxophone flutters pushes the narrative into horizontal motion. However that's swiftly overcome by ray-gun-like whooshes and sul ponticello pressure from the violist and bassist João Madeira, while Gonçalves' vibrating patterns from both keyboard and stroked internal strings reintroduce linear movement. A further expansion of altissimo cries from the reeds is subsumed by an unvarying double bass groove.
Voltage drones and pinpointed but rugged metal percussion slaps the affiliate for a logical conclusion. Like much free form music the key isn't resolution but the tonal varieties of evolution. Ken Waxman (The Whole Note)
credits
released April 1, 2023
Ernesto Rodrigues - viola, crackle box
Nuno Torres - alto saxophone
Bruno Parrinha - bass clarinet
Luisa Gonçalves - piano
Flak - electric guitar
João Madeira - double bass
Carlos Santos - analog synthesiser
José Oliveira - percussion
Ernesto Rodrigues (Lisbon, August 29th 1959) has been playing the violin / viola for 50 years and in that time has played
all genres of music ranging from contemporary music to free jazz and free improvisation, live and in the studio.
The relationship with his instruments is focused in sonic and
textural elements as well as the use of extended techniques....more
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