DIAPASAO

Diapasao EP2008 marks a radical change in the Brazilian band DIAPASAO from a trio to a sextet adding classic guitar (Probably a seven chords Brazilian guitar), violin and flute but moving from Symphonic Prog towards some sort of Jazz-Rock-Folk Fusion.

This short EP starts with "Delirios" (Deliriums) which from the start makes this mutation evident, the interplay between drums, bass, violin and piano is vibrant and oriented towards classical Jazz, but as soon as the violin takes the lead, we notice some JEAN-LUC PONTRY influence that is later enhanced by the flute. Even when there are multiple changes they manage to make the music fluid and coherent, it's obvious that we are before a group of virtuoso musicians who really know their business.

If the first track showed the new orientation of the band towards Jazz, "Utopia" confirms the first impression. this time we are before an extremely complex and elaborated song that again reminds me a lot of JEAN-LUC PONTY style, except that the flute takes the lead role instead of the violin.

But there's something that fascinates me of DIAPASAO, they are able to make the most radical and dramatic changes and still sound perfectly fluid, they jump from a frenetic passage to a beautiful and soft melody in such a natural way. that the listener believes this is the only way things could go, just perfect.

Trem de Areia (Train of Sand) is simply amazing, the introduction seems as some sort of "Avant Garde" piano solo soon followed by an extremely experimental form of Jazz where all the instruments enter into a complex dissonant passage that suddenly morphs into an extremely beautiful violin and piano melody with some ethnic hints But more surprises will arrive, after a frenetic violin solo that sounds almost as a Paganini Capriccio comes a soft melody that again turns into an almost cacophonic experimentation.

This track is much more surprising because is a cover of a Villa Lobos and Milton Nascimento song, treated with respect, but changed dramatically, the only word that comes to my mind is BRILLIANT.

Very close to the status of masterpiece 4 stars

Following the relatively good critics of their debut, Rodrigo Lana's Diapaso were expanded to a sextet with the addition of Ayran Nicodemo on violin, Leandro Cesar on viola and Alexandre Andres on flute.The new line-up recorded an EP in 2008, simple entitled ''EP2008'', which was available as a free download through the band's website.

Opening with ''Delirios'', one can recognize the band's slight turn towards more jazzy ventures, although the Classical touches are evident as well.Partly responsible for the change are the new members and their endless, pretty loose interplays on strings and flutes, while Lana as well performs in a more jazzy style as well.''Utopia'' kicks off with a pleasant flute/piano intercation, before becoming again a folky Fusion piece with Classical bits in the academic piano performance of Lana.Very good interplays again with semi-improvised lines and a quite melancholic, calm ending section.''Trem de Areia'' is propably the closer cut to Brazilian Folk with dominant flute and violin textures and the kicking piano of Lana in a very Avant-Garde mood.The striking solo of Nicodemo's violin is fantastic midaway through the track and the addition of Andres' flute later make this a very complex yet attractive piece of Folk/Fusion.

With ''EP2008'' a new musical territory seems to open for Diapasao.A nice mix of folky, jazzy and Chamber aesthetics into a well-executed and adventurous prog amalgam.Recommended.