Back catalogue: International

Review: What drives Amaro Freitas in life is experience. In 2020 the pianist, who hails from the Northeastern Brazilian coastal city of Recife, was drawn to Manaus, located in the Amazon basin, some 4600 kilometers to the west. His experience in that lush wilderness led him into a new realm of musical creation, one rooted in magic and possibility and tempered by a sense of stewardship for the earth's bounties and a connection to the Satere Mawe indigenous community. Crucial to the experience for Freitas was the maintenance of a true exchange of knowledge. According to Freitas, in the resulting album, Y'Y (pronounced: eey-eh, eey-eh), he pays "homage to the forest, especially the Amazon Forest, and the rivers of Northern Brazil: a call to live, feel, respect, and care for nature, recognizing it as our ancestor." This album is an artful conversation between its traditions, rooted in the unique sounds and rituals found in Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous cultures. With Y'Y, Freitas further codifies his fresh, 'decolonized' interpretation of Brazilian jazz, one that may well shatter preconceived notions of what jazz can be.

Review: Amaro Freitas's Y'Y marks a departure from his previous work, delving into humid, spacious compositions influenced by indigenous Amazonian music. Freitas's polyrhythmic piano playing, described as a fusion of lacy delicacy and propulsive thumping, takes center stage, displaying his remarkable ability to blend diverse influences seamlessly. Tracks like 'Uira (Encantada da Agua) - Vida e cura' feature prepared pianos and intricate basslines reminiscent of Ethio-jazz, pushing the boundaries of traditional jazz into avant-garde territory. In the album's second half, Freitas engages in dynamic collaborations with guests like Jeff Parker and Brandee Younger, adding layers of texture and depth to his compositions. "Y'Y" represents a bold exploration of cultural fusion and experimentation, solidifying Freitas's position as a visionary pianist and composer in the contemporary jazz landscape.