Beledo - 2024 - Flotando En El Vacio
(74:00; Moonjune Records)
Multi-instrumentalist José Pedro Beledo enjoys bringing in new musicians for virtually every album, so while he provides electric guitar, Spanish guitar, acoustic piano and violin he is joined this time by Jorge Pardo (flute, tenor sax), Carles Benavent (bass guitar), one of my favourite drummers in Asaf Sirkis along with guests Gary Husband (Fender Rhodes electric piano, Mimi Moog) and Ramón Echegaray who provides candombe percussion on one track. Most multi-instrumentalists are skilled at one type of instrument and not so much on others, but while Beledo is primarily a guitarist he is no slouch on the others either. It is interesting to note that there is one traditional song on here, plus four credited just to Beledo but the three songs with Gary Husband are credited to all five musicians.
Here we have a band who are really cooking solidly linked in with Beledo to create jazz rock fusion which is a delight from beginning to end. Sirkis is well-known for his wonderful solo albums, as well as plenty with others, and he has been a member of Soft Machine since 2023, and he revels in the opportunity to either keep it pared back or go full bore. Pardo is not as prevalent as one might expect, with Beledo taking much of the solos and main melody (although Husband is a key player when he is involved). I do need to also mention the stunning playing of Carles Benavent, as this album would be very different indeed if he was not involved as there are plenty of times when he is providing nuances and runs which make it seem as if he is really playing lead, such is the impact. He has been likened to Jaco Pastorius, while he has worked with the likes of Chick Corea, Miles Davis and Paco de Lucía, with the last of these being someone who he has worked with for more than 25 years. This never feels like a multi-instrumentalist and some hired hands, but instead is a well-honed, well-practiced group of musicians who know what just the music needs and always delivers it in spades.
Kev Rowland, March 2025
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