Trees

CD – Creative Sources Recordings – CS252, Lisbon 2013

1. Ancient Trees - 12'41''

2. Whistling Trees - 05'15''

3. Lonely Trees - 12'29''

4. Moonlit Trees - 08'17''

5. Tree of Life - 03'37''

Ernesto Rodrigues - Viola

Guilherme Rodrigues - Cello

Gianna De Toni - Double Bass

Christophe Berthet - Soprano Saxophone

Raphaël Ortis - Electric Bass, Objects

Recorded in May 2013, Lisbon

Cover design Carlos Santos

https://ernestorodrigues.bandcamp.com/album/trees

Reviews

Trees [cs252] brings together an unusual quintet of string trio—viola (Ernesto Rodrigues), cello (Guilherme Rodrigues) and double bass (Gianna de Toni)—with soprano saxophone (Christophe Berthet) and electric bass/objects (Raphael Ortis). The five tracks contain a deep range of sounds from all of the instruments: Sparse textures evoking creaking wood and the rustling of dry leaves (Ancient Trees); long bowed tones from the cello and double bass and suspended harmonics (Whistling Trees); rattling metal and pizzicato electric bass (Lonely Trees); low density layering and stillnesses (Moonlit Trees); siren-like sustained dissonances over a resonant, low foundation (Tree of Life). Daniel Barbiero (Percorsi Musicali)

Au Tcha3, où Creative Sources et Ernesto Rodrigues ont leurs habitudes, fut enregistréTrees le 22 mai 2013. Auprès du violiniste, le violoncelle de Guilherme Rodrigues, la contrebasse de Gianna De Toni, la basse électrique de Raphaël Ortis et – pour contrebalancer peut être le poids des cordes – le soprano de Christophe Berthet. 

De part et d’autre du trébuchet – taillé peut-être dans un des arbres dont il est question –, on trouverait ainsi le saxophoniste opposé à ses camarades. Le jeu de bascule commande précision et patience, qui ménage bruissements (violon interrogé de l’ongle, graves soignés à l’archet, partitions mécaniques étouffées) et souffles voilés. Habilement suspendus, les éléments sonores forment bientôt dans l’espace une composition que se disputent impression de louvoyer et expression affranchie. Cinq improvisateurs s’en trouvent lévitant. Guillaume Belhomme (Le Son du Grisli)

A dupla Rodrigues – o pai Ernesto na viola, o filho Guilherme no violoncelo – encontra-se neste Trees com três parceiros internacionais: os suíços Christophe Berthet (saxofone soprano) e Raphaël Ortis (baixo eléctrico e objectos) e a italiana Gianna De Toni (contrabaixo). Os cinco temas que constituem o disco debruçam-se sobre árvores: “Ancient Trees”; “Whistling Trees”; “Lonely Trees”; “Moonlit Trees”; “Tree of Life”. Apesar da aparente imobilidade, a música aqui está viva e flui, embora sem grandes sobressaltos. Trabalhando numa metódica e rigorosa construção sonora, este quinteto transnacional não se deixa ficar, como no livro de Mário Ventura, à sombra das árvores mortas. Nuno Catarino (Bodyspace.net) 

It would almost appear that while small tonal leaves detach from their axis, the quintet of improvisers were getting into the act of collecting helical wood shavings, scraping the trunks out, breaking some spines, clearing the deadwood away, piling sawdust and exploring other bizarre dissonances by means of their own instruments: Ernesto Rodrigues (viola) and his son Guilherme (cello) - well known to our readers -, Gianni De Toni (double bass), Christophe Berthet (soprano saxophone) and Raphael Ortis (electric bass and objects) planted five improvisations in between layered stillness ("Moonlit Trees"), shady poised harmonies ("Whistling Trees") and resonances on the edge ("Tree of Life", the track - I think it's not accidental -, which sounds more mysterious and somehow dizzying), which gradually become elements of a soundscape where extended techniques and the unusual clippings that they produce are like giant trees within an open spot. Vito Camarretta (Chain DLK)

“Trees” volta a colocar os termos que no actual período de existência da improvisação minimal estão em causa. Com Guilherme Rodrigues, Gianna de Toni, Christophe Berthet e Raphael Ortis, este outro disco de Ernesto Rodrigues congrega bordões e dissonâncias, padrões repetitivos e ocorrências puramente intuitivas. Privilegiam-se a diferenciação de recursos e materiais e a variedade de abordagens e léxicos, com a música a beneficiar em riqueza e em imprevisibilidade. Outro aspecto formal contribui para os bons resultados obtidos: o saxofone soprano de Berthet é colocado “contra” as quatro cordas do quinteto, agindo como um “joker”, uma carta fora do baralho. Rui Eduardo Paes (Jazz.pt)

Five trees interpreted through electroacoustic improv from the quintet of Guilherme Rodrigues (cello, Gianna de Toni, double bass), Raphael Ortis (electric bass, objects) Christophe Berthet (sax), and Ernesto Rodrigues (viola); mysterious and compelling music. (Squidco)