Let me start by how it presents itself to you, a solo recital of totally improvised music: the paradoxical music format that stands somewhere between the ultimate display of intimate frailty on the one hand, and unbounded, ephemeral experimentation on the other, yet which often ends up being the superlative affirmation of an artist. However, it gets even more particular, as this wasn’t merely a solo recital of totally improvised music. It’s one thathappened at a world-class festival of classical music, hosting such an event of unknown outcome for the first time, side by side with contemporary music commissions and early, common practice and 20th century classic works. Being released on the 75th anniversary of Aix-en-Provence Festival, this is a considerable achievement by João Barradas, which implies the improvised concert getting the same distinguished consideration as the composed concert and the reinforced connection between the universes of classical, folk and jazz music, in a modern perspective of globalized past and future languages. It is indeed a recording with many nuclear subjects on it, confirming Barradas as a definitive central figure of the accordion worldwide.

Pedro Melo Alves

All music by João Barradas

Produced by João Barradas and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence | Recorded live at Hotel Maynier D’Oppède on July 12th 2022 by Sérgio Milhano | Mixed and mastered by Sérgio Milhano at PontoZurca Recording Studios, Almada, Portugal
Produced by João Barradas | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Clean Feed | Cover image by Carlos Borges | Design by Travassos