There’s a light, free-flowing cadence to Roque that’s pretty easy to connect with.  Some of this has to do with the pop music sensibilities of the melodies, and how they’re sturdily crafted to stand on their own or serve as launching points for all kinds of improvisation.  Then there’s the way that the rhythm section subtly modulates between folk, jazz and rock tempos, sometimes within the span of one song, playing a cerebral game with motion that keeps the foot guessing whether it should tap along or not.  And then, arguably the greatest effect on this music’s lovely flow is the way the Roque quartet of guitarist João Roque, saxophonist João Capinha, bassist Xico Santos and drummer David Pires blend folk, jazz and rock elements into one singular expression.  There’s some back and forth between the influences as they determine which will be the dominant voice in a particular song, but never does one form of expression eclipse the others.  This leaves the music feeling free to roam wherever the song takes it… and, yet, in the end, it always comes home to the original statement of melody.

Just a wonderful recording.

Your album personnel:  João Roque (electric & acoustic guitars), João Capinha (alto & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet), Xico Santos (bass) and David Pires (drums).

The album is Self-Produced.

Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Jazz from the Lisbon, Portugal scene.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon

This is an album that’s all about conjuring up imagery.  And not from a sharp, cinematic perspective, but more along the lines of the simultaneously incongruous and vague nature of dreams.  Considering this is the debut of the Tyrant Lizard trio of guitarist Greg Belisle-Chi, bassist Carmen Rothwell and trumpeter Ray Larsen, it’s an impressive display of compelling atmospherics.

And while all of the album tracks serve the common purpose of constructing a single vision, the stronger tracks are those where those atmospherics are guided with a sense of direction and form.  For instance, with just the slightest push, the gentlest coaxing, the trio provides opening track “Stegosaurus” and a rendition of “Shenandoah” a sense of shape and purpose, and it goes a long way to rounding those songs out.  That said, the seeming randomness of “Predator Ooze” and “Fingers” cause each to convey a sense of intrigue just by way of comparison with their counterparts… additionally, they both suggest some influence of Wayne Horvitz’s particular form ambient-folk-jazz on the Seattle music scene that he shares with the trio.

An enjoyable recording that shows plenty of promise.

Your album personnel:  Greg Belisle-Chi (guitar), Carmen Rothwell (bass) and Ray Larsen (trumpet).

This album is Self-Produced.

Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Jazz from the Seattle, Washington scene.

Available at:  Bandcamp