Folia: The Music Of Egberto Gismonti (Sunnyside Records)
Gaia Wilmer Large Ensemble
Released January 13, 2023
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nnfyL6sJ5qqULl-zCJPgUVp7jo6ogpW4c
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/4gePp0VTjXfIW735mrC7OH?si=JN8iYk-dTtSgWtVmFPSJlg
About:
The magical music of Brazilian composer/guitarist/pianist Egberto Gismonti has enchanted generations of listeners. His celebrated blend of folkloric, jazz, and popular music has stationed Gismonti in the pantheon of Brazilian music. Composer/arranger Gaia Wilmer fell under Gismonti’s spell as a youngster and now honors him with her new large ensemble recording, Folia. // Wilmer began arranging Gismonti’s music for large ensembles while finishing her master’s degree at New England Conservatory, as a rehearsal big band was made available to composers each semester. With a number of arrangements in hand, Wilmer received a grant from the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil which would provide opportunities to perform her music in the Institute’s four concert venues. She anticipated four concerts but was approved for sixteen. // The grant allowed Wilmer to present music of Gismonti at a series of concerts in honor of his 70th birthday in 2018, in which he was part of the program. Gismonti accepted the invitation to play one concert in each of the four cities together with six other special guests, thus allowing Wilmer to enlist harmonica magician Gabriel Grossi and the former Gismonti collaborator, cellist/arranger Jaques Morelenbaum, for what would eventually be twelve performances in four different Brazilian cities and the recording of Folia, which was recorded soon thereafter in São Paulo. // Many musicians have performed the music of Egberto Gismonti. With that in mind, Wilmer wanted to find a way to present his music in a unique way and really make the compositions her own. Wilmer began by selecting pieces that she truly loved, both well-known and more obscure. A handful of the pieces were selected from her favorite Gismonti recording, Em Familia (1981). She approached each piece individually, trying to find intriguing ways to translate them appropriately for nineteen instruments. Even Gismonti pointed out that with her changes and reharmonizations the music had truly become her own re-compositions.
Track Listing:
1. Folia 7:06
2. Em Família 6:59
3. 7 Anéis 7:02
4. Bianca 5:25
5. Infância 10:53
6. Lôro 11:23
7. Karatê 8:28
8. Maracatu 9:34
9. Cego Aderaldo 11:12
10. Baião Malandro 7:12
Personnel:
Gaia Wilmer Large Ensemble
Conductor: Gaia Wilmer
Reeds: Maiara Moraes, Aline Goncalves, Fernando Trocado, Rui Alvim, Gustavo D’Amico, Joana Queiroz, Henrique Band
Trumpet: Bruno Soares, Diego Garbin, Gilson Santos, Pedro Paulo Junior
Trombone: Rafael Rocha, Everson Moraes, Jonas Hocherman, Leandro Dantas (bass)
Guitar: Luciano Camara
Piano: Rafael Martini
Bass: Mayo Pamplona
Drums: Lourenco Vasconcellos
Special Guests
Piano: Egberto Gismonti (3, 7)
Harmonica: Gabriel Grossi (6)
Cello: Jaques Morelenbaum (5)
Review:
As Brazilian musical legends go, Egberto Gismonti ranks so highly and has created such a personal voice, blending jazz, classical and folkloric elements that the prospect of paying tribute to his work should be daunting. Yet young bandleader/arranger Gaia Wilmer has worked a small miracle, partly thanks to the deep influence, direct blessing and actual input of the man himself. On this strikingly fine album, the Gismonti himself lends authenticity on piano, amidst a 90-minute series of inventive-but-ever-respectful charts on his tunes. Wilmer, a native of Florianópolis, Brasil, began developing her fresh, fascinating takes on Gismonti with concerts timed for his 70th birthday in 2018. She approaches her task with visceral energy and sophistication, incisively capturing the delicate, symbiotic qualities of Gismonti’s buoyant spirit and virtuosity. On well-known classics, Wilmer offers expressive concepts as with the deconstructed melodic fragments of “Lôro” and deft dynamic interplay on “7 Anéis,” including a generous piano solo and a restless free improv section. Featured soloists include former Gismonti collaborator, cellist Jacques Morelenbaum and the bedazzling harmonica player Gabriel Grossi. But the primary spotlights go to Wilmer’s riveting orchestration, her ensemble’s taut esprit de corps and the timeless allure of Gismonti’s musical garden.
Josef Woodard (DownBeat)
