itibirê orquestra família: pedra do espia
Francisco Espregueira
Far Out Recordings drops another overlooked masterpiece from one of the greatest minds in brazilian instrumental music. Pedra do Espia is edited for the first time in vinyl format, reminding us about the infinite gold produced in Brazil on the past decades. Named after the beachside viewing point which translates as ‘Spy’s Rock’, where award-winning brazilian bassist Itiberê Zwarg would sit as a child, daydreaming and gazing out over the brazilian coast, the record harnesses the pure creativity of youth and nature, creating a magical sense of innocence amongst the striking compositions and astonishing musicianship.
Back in 1999, Itiberê led a workshop with twenty-nine of Rio de Janeiro’s most exceptionally talented young musicians. Over the course of many months, with regular intensive 7 hour rehearsal sessions, Itiberê composed and arranged in real time, transcribing the improvisations of the prodigious orchestra while allowing the players freedom to experiment. The result was Pedra do Espia, an Amazonian orchestral masterpiece which is as difficult to categorize in a genre, as it is fun to listen to.
Pedra do Espia is probably not an album for everyone, due to its complex structure of ever-changing rhythms and melodies. It takes time. Every song has to breathe on his own to create a colorful scenic effect on our imagination. Dropping tomorrow, via the fantastic Far Out Recordings, this album showcases music at its most complex and beautiful.