Ton's Musical Musings: Hamilton de Holanda

Last night I traveled to Rotterdam to see Hamilton de Holanda and his quintet from Brazil during their brief tour of the Netherlands and Belgium. This was the second time I saw them live; the first time after their spectacular showcase at last year's Womex (World Music Expo) in Seville. They played only new material from their forthcoming album. The tightness of the performance became even more impressive when Hamilton told me afterwards that this was just the third time they had played the new pieces live.

In terms of virtuosity, tight ensemble playing and pure joy in creating music few can match this young band from Rio. Well, young..?. Drummer Márcio Bahia (who has played for many years with the great Hermeto Pascoal) must be well in his fifties. Hamilton's take on choro (which is to Brazil what tango is to Argentina) is reminiscent of Béla Fleck's reworking of American bluegrass. Like Fleck and his Flecktones, De Holanda blends in jazz, rock and funk to create a truly explosive mix. Fortunately they're not on the highest energy level all the time. Sometimes the mood is quite mellow, especially when Hamilton's mandolin engages in a dreamy duet with Gabriel Grossi's harmonica.

Also, Hamilton ended the first set with two solo pieces not unlike those on his recent album Intimo, which I reviewed in Ode last month. More on www.hamiltondeholanda.com