João Hasselberg ( double bass) and Pedro Branco (guitar), two Portuguese jazz musicians, now living in Copenhagen and Amsterdam respectively, joined forces for Dancing Our Way To Death. It's a collection of melancholic, contemplative compositions unfolding like flowers after a cold, dark night. The veil of sadness is only lifted occasionally. With a wealth of guest musicians helping out on vocals, drums, piano and additional guitar they are weaving intricate textures, but there is always some space for improvisation as well.
Born In Captivity will make the heads runs of Ray Cooder fans and the tuning they picked for Norman Is The Name Of My Girlfriend's Imaginary Dog conjures of the ghost of Nick Drake. Miniature #2 For Calvin & Hobbes's Saturday Mornings (naming a jazz composition after these two comic characters is a first) could be mistaken for brunch background music, but after closer inspection it's far too complex for that).
Dancing Our Way To Death needs great sounding speakers to fully appreciate the subtle nuances. It was recorded in s apace with a great echo, adding depth and an elongated back beat that deserves undivided attention.
Afonso Cabral: vocals
Elina Silova: vocals
Afonso Pais: guitar
João Paulo Esteves da Silva: piano
Pedro Branco: guitar, vocals
João Hasselberg: bass, vocals, shaker, whistle
João Lencastre: drums
Dancing Our Way To Death is a self-released album. Buy it from their website.
Tracks:- I Think I Love You
- Miniature #1 For Our Countryside Life
- Eyes From Above
- The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
- Lisboa
- Born In Captivity
- Far Far Away
- Norman Is The Name Of My Girlfriend's Imaginary Dog
- Although You're Going, Nobody Wants You There
- Miniature #2 For Calvin & Hobbes's Saturday Mornings
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