Forgotten treasures - Gato Barbieri
A random reference to the encyclopedia The Penguin Jazz Guide reminded us of the melodic and experimental music of the avant-garde Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri. Today we are happy to travel to his world in the mid-70s with one of the top albums of that time - almost 50 years ago, namely the live recorded "Chapter Four: Alive in New York", released in 1975 by the label Impulse!. An album placed next to "Agharta" by Miles Davis.
The album is the fourth, final chapter in a series that began in 1973 with Chapter One, "Chapter One: Latin America.”
As the great saxophonist David Liebman notes, Gato is one of the most underrated performers of his time, somehow left in the shadows.
For the public, Gato Barbieri remains famous for his music to Bertolucci's great film "Last Tango in Paris". But his live sessions prove what an experimenter we have standing in front of us. Music extremely pioneering and somehow ahead of its time by decades. To this day, the good masters of the saxophone receive the nickname "Gato" - a kind of assessment of their skills, combined with inner strength. A perfect mix.
The great Argentine musician goes through various phases of experimentation and combining jazz with Brazilian and Latin American folklore, but also with avant-garde ones together with Enrique Rava in Europe.
It is in this album that there are many themes that years and decades later will have a huge impact on the musicians who explore them, who are inspired by them and continue to return to his work with reverence.
Enjoy listening to the melodic, but also full of twists album. A cozy journey back in time just to make sure that eternal themes and ideas do not become obsolete.
Of course, you will find Gato Barbieri's music on music platforms. And we highly recommend all four "chapters" of Gato's project.
Chapter Four: Alive in New York
May 2021
Image ©MA
