Admire the irony: a group of musicians from Montreal’s diverse population, who wanted to showcase the musical richness of the city’s young neo-Quebecers, have isolated themselves in the snowy Gaspé forest (but in the warmth, we presume) to achieve their goal. Beautiful, isn’t it? And wham! for the immigration denigrators…
Lucas Melo is a Brazilian-born guitarist who arrived here in 2012, and Enzo Lord Mariano is a native Montrealer who has made the bandolim, a 10-string Brazilian mandolin, his musical life partner. The two come together in a unique blend of Brazilian music and jazz (but not bossa!), with influences from Sergio Assad and Hamilton de Hollanda. Mariano’s bandolim playing will remind some of Cape Verde’s Bau on the cavaquinho. Very nice! Of course, the historical Lusitanophile link between Cape Verde and Brazil is no coincidence.
An important aspect of Lucas Melo is that he often sings in French, a detail that is particularly appreciated. Although his voice is not particularly beautiful, it conveys a kindly sweetness that touches our ears. MUDA, which means “young shoot” in Portuguese (the young musicians I mentioned in my introduction) also brings together the talents of Isabelle Gaudreau on clarinet and bass clarinet, and Saulo Olmedo Evans on tabla and calabash. While there are a few inaccuracies in vocal accuracy, we have to acknowledge the great beauty of the music, its instrumental excellence and the soothing gentleness of the atmosphere created.
MUDA will officially be released on October 22 at Montréal’s Sala Rossa.
