Flamenco Jazz Summit: El Mar Empieza Aqui

...deeply melodic forays and from-the-heart blues occupy the same space, unconflicted.
DAVE SUMNER, BIRD IS THE WORM

Forceful and mystic, with a beauty and intensity that reminded him of his first hearings of Miles, Mingus, or Monk, Belgian bassist & composer Piet Verbist was pulled into his deep study of Flamenco culture several years ago through a grant from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. After a dozen immersive trips to Andalusia to study, perform, and develop a repertoire, Piet presented concerts in Belgium and Málaga with his joint Spanish/Belgian ensemble, recording this album live in Antwerp at the end of 2023. Featuring Carmelo Muriel on the Bansuriney (a Muriel-designed wooden flute), Carlos Cortés on percussion and flamenco guitar, and Juan Sainz on drums, with Belgians Tom Van Dyck on saxophones, and Verbist's son, Milan Verbist on piano, the Flamenco Jazz Summit paints a sonic portrait both exotic and popular at first sight, but the dual cultural melting-pot conceived traditions of jazz and flamenco actually combine to prove deep and inimitable.

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Track Listing

1 Al-Andablues 7:01 (Buler'as)
2 Nuevo Alterado 7:33 (Tanguillos)
3 El Mar Empieza Aqui 7:37 (Alegr'as)
4 A Child Is Born 6:50 (Soleá)
5 La Filosofia Del Jamón 13:26 dedicated to Carmelo Muriel
6 Asylum 10:09 dedicated to all refugees in the world
7 Y Allá Ella Está 10:31 (Seguiriyas) dedicated to Griet Van Steen
8 Bull 6:08 (Buler'as)

All compositions and arrangements by Piet Verbist,
except (4) comp. by Thad Jones, arr. by Piet Verbist

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