Amaro Freitas (BRA)
Amaro Freitas (BRA)
Mini jazz festival at the House of Music on April 16-17! New jazz on the horizon – Two days of jazz at the House is primarily aimed at jazz fans, but we also cater to all music lovers in general, with two of the genre's contemporary heavyweights – the British trio Mammal Hands and the Brazilian Amaro Freitas – performing on consecutive days. Mammal Hands, one of the most popular trios of the past decade, is signed to Gondwana Records, one of the most important labels in 21st-century British jazz, founded by trumpeter Matthew Halsall. With its minimalist sound and hypnotic compositions, the saxophone-piano-drums formation is a defining force on the contemporary jazz scene. After their debut in Hungary in 2024, the trio will return to our country while working on their new album, this time for a standing concert. Of course, you'll still have to hurry to buy tickets, as seating is limited.
Born in 1991, Amaro Freitas released his post-bop, samba-jazz debut album in 2016. His 2018 album Rasif attracted international attention, and his third LP (Sankofa) in 2021 was already a celebrated record, as was YʼY in 2024, the first half of which is more classical, while the second half, featuring guitarist Jeff Parker and saxophonist and wind instrument player Shababa Hutchings, is more jazzy, but the whole album is permeated by the world of rainforests, the evocation of traditions, and respect for nature. "It is a call to live, feel, respect, and care for nature—recognizing that it is our ancestor," says the author of the album, born in the depths of the primeval forest, adding that "at the same time, it is also a warning: we must be aware of the effects we ourselves cause through the concepts of civilization and modernity, which distance us from this connection – even though preserving it is vital to the balance of life on the planet." YʼY is about the importance of the water of life, the river, and our environment, and how preserving the Brazilian rainforests can provide an answer to the real challenges of climate change.
In addition to those mentioned above, Hamid Drake, Aniel Somellian, and Brandee Younger also contribute to the album. YʼY is thus not only an expression of connection to the earth and ancestors, but also proof of the solidarity of the global black avant-garde jazz community. This album is an artistic dialogue between traditions, rooted in the unique sounds and rituals of Afro-Brazilian and indigenous cultures. With YʼY, Freitas further reinforces his "decolonized" interpretation of Brazilian jazz—a fresh and innovative approach that fundamentally questions what jazz means today. Whatever it means, Freitas must be heard live.
Mini jazz festival at the House of Music on April 16-17! New jazz on the horizon – Jazz for two days at the House is primarily aimed at jazz fans, but generally provides something for all music lovers, with two contemporary greats of the genre – the British trio Mammal Hands and Brazilian Amaro Freitas – available to see on consecutive days. One of the popular trios of the past decade, Mammal Hands appears on one of the significant labels of 21st-century British jazz, Gondwana Records, founded by trumpeter Matthew Halsall. The saxophone-piano-drums formation, with its minimalist sound and hypnotic compositions, is a defining element on the contemporary jazz scene. After their 2024 debut in Hungary – while their new album is in progress – the trio is returning to our country, this time for a standing concert. Of course, you'll still need to hurry in purchasing tickets, as seats are limited.
Rock Troubadours (US, 70s): CSNY, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Roy Harper
