Knowing Felipe the way I do (from long before he even made a sound on the nice, new alto sax his father bought him in São Paulo) and seeing from up close the great artist he has become is a true privilege, something to be proud of, and above all an immense joy.
Felipe has always been in love with music and has always been a serious scholar of this art form.
And like all great artists, he is relentless in his search for the new and the unexplored.
This characteristic, combined with an outstanding talent, has over the years finessed and polished a wonderful instrumentalist, a composer of great originality, and an inventive arranger; in short, a cutting edge musician.
Extremely restless, Felipe has never feared taking risks. This has perhaps been the greatest lesson he has taught me over the course of our friendship and time together.
In this new recording, he brings together once more his wonderful band of long time partners: Nando Michelin (piano), Keala Kaumeheiwa (bass), Bertram Lehmann (drums and percussion) and Laura Arpiainen (violin). The new element is the addition of trumpet legend Randy Brecker, who shares melodies and solos beautifully with Salles as if they had been playing together for the last twenty years. Their performance, melody after melody, solo after solo takes us to great heights. What a joy!
The compositions are fresh and haunting, mixing, with mastery, elements of Brazilian music, jazz, classical music and pop, in an ever lyrical and stimulating manner.
Felipe takes us listeners on trips around a world of both mysterious and revealing tunes ranging from Maracatu to Schoenberg, from Bartók to the blues, from Hermeto to straight ahead, always bearing his unmistakable mark.
It is always very difficult for me to talk about the way someone's music moves me because there are so many feelings involved, but in the case of this rare musician it is always easy as well as a pleasure.
Salles' music makes me proud to be Brazilian, proud to be his friend and proud to be able to appreciate the art of this great artisan from close by.
Bravo Felipe!
Chico Pinheiro
cdbaby
