Overview of an distinctive reside recording by an distinctive jazz group

Dwell, by the Agua Dulce Ensamble  

I just lately realized that the Guadalajara jazz group Agua Dulce Ensamble might be enjoying right here in Ajijic with a buddy of mine, Eleazar Soto, becoming a member of them on the sax. They’ve simply launched a brand new EP, Dwell,  recorded reside on the Solo Jazz TV present in Guadalajara with pianist Cuervo Glez. Their 2023 album Unstandard is on my jazz playlist, so I’m accustomed to them. Their 2021 album Musica Tranquilo has simply been uploaded to Spotify, so there’s a digital cornucopia of Agua Dulce Ensamble music obtainable to stream.

I’ve been listening to Dwell all day in each foreground and background. It really works both manner, however foreground – with headphones, leaning again in your chair is what it deserves.  

The core group – Chen Quintero on guitar, Juan Manuel Ayala on bass, Guillermo Nunez on drums are all precision gamers. Every be aware is correct, the sort of proper that solely seems if you find yourself so good you possibly can overlook what you might be doing and simply do it. The result’s pure tranquility, even when the vitality flows.

The EP opens with “Footprints”, coloured however not led, by Quintero’s guitar which produces notes which can be as clear because the deep water of Lake Tahoe and simply as mysteriously stunning. They transfer via the tune like footprints – exquisitely delineated, however not sharp, impressions of feelings transmitted although guitar strings. As Quintero builds construction with the guitar notes,  Cuervo Glez  strikes in with the piano, nearly just like the lead hen in a migrating v-formation flock. He propels his instrument with a magic hand, weaving out and in, now with vitality, now with softness, however at all times ahead. There are breaks for the guitar, particularly when Quintero performs the low be aware thick strings.  The rhythm part – Juan Manuel Ayala on bass and Guillermo Nunez on drums – present a beat construction that’s at all times there, however strikes the tune alongside with out you figuring out it.

“Impressions” leaps out with repeating announcement theme on the guitar after which strikes into its personal mainstream, like railroad tracks fabricated from bass notes and piano explorations. Some components of the tune sound acquainted and a few are wholly from one other, light, dimension. As Glez strikes up and down his keyboard, the group buildings a theme behind him very like an summary portray of a storm, scaffolding the piano with their very own notes.

“Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers” , the Steve Kuhn tune recorded in 1972 by Monica Zetterlund , follows in a extra down tempo journey with the guitar and the piano mixing intently earlier than an occasional divergence. The vitality degree goes up because the tune strikes alongside, after which drops again right down to tranquility with the guitar virtually whispering in your ear earlier than resuming the journey.

“Nardis” begins out with a lightweight snare accent after which strides forward with the guitar and piano alternating after which mixing, at all times returning to the opening theme. A really good little bit of nostalgia inside the tune earlier than it strikes into up tempo drum and bass and down tempo piano and guitar. The wrap up tune, “Incertidumbre” begins off like a guitar fairy story after which takes off like a prepare, however at all times staying under a threshold of vitality – by no means too intense, however at all times energetic. It manages to transmit that vitality whereas staying tranquil. Fairly a feat.

The complete EP is a jewel: the music is revolutionary and beautiful; the recording is superb particularly for a reside efficiency. If you’re a jazz buff, put this in your playlist. After which put in your headphones I’m trying ahead to their live performance this Sunday at La Cochera Cultural in Ajijic. “Dwell” may be streamed on Spotify, Bandcamp. Movies on YouTube.    

Patrick O’Heffernan