Isaïas Alvès - Enchantement

LINEUP: ISAÍAS ALVÈS drums/lead, TIMBÓ AFRODANCE vocals/percussion/performance, BETINA MARTINEZ piano, BERYL BENEVISTE saxophone, JOANNE DOLLY bass.

'Enchantement' is an original musical performance by Isaías Alves articulating Afro-Maranhense and indigenous rhythmic matrices with the contemporary language of Afro-diasporic jazz and post-modal structures. The work is the result of over twenty years of research into Maranhão's cultural manifestations, such as bumba meu boi, Divino Espírito Santo festivals and Afro-Maranhense practices, transposed into contemporary instrumental language. (Lanna Luiza, journalist and cultural producer • human rights)

A child of São Luís in northeast Brazil, Isaías is a percussionist and composer nourished by Maranhão's popular traditions. He grew up to the rhythm of street drums, processions and festivities, before carrying his sounds across to Europe. With him, tradition meets improvisation, jazz takes root in territory and rhythm becomes language.

These #Encounters are conceived as a living space. A place where musicians meet, experiment, where pulsation becomes common language. Where each evening can shift elsewhere.