Y'Y
Amaro Freitas
2024
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Y'Y, the fourth album by pianist Amaro Freitas, represents a milestone in his discography and in contemporary Brazilian instrumental music. The work deepens Freitas' unique musical language, characterised by the innovative fusion of ancestral Brazilian rhythms, pianistic percussion, and the harmonic complexity of jazz. The album stands out as a work deeply rooted in themes of ancestry, nature, and spirituality, translating these inspirations into rich sonorities and engaging textures. Freitas uses the piano not only as a melodic instrument but also as a percussion ensemble, exploring prepared piano techniques and the polyrhythm that echoes drums and the pulse of the forest. Y'Y offers an auditory experience that is both contemplative and dynamically expressive, inviting the listener on a sonic journey that transcends traditional genre boundaries.
Context
Amaro Freitas, originally from Recife, Pernambuco, has been refining his musical identity since his debut album, Sangue Negro (2016), followed by Rasif (2018) and Sankofa (2021). In these previous works, he already explored the mixture of Pernambucan rhythms, such as maracatu and frevo, with jazz improvisation, developing a complex and muscular rhythmic style. For Y'Y, Freitas embarked on a 4,600-kilometre journey to Manaus, in the Amazon basin, in 2020. This immersive experience in the forest and contact with the Sateré Mawé indigenous community were crucial for the album's conception, directing his musical creation towards a realm of magic, possibilities, and a profound connection with environmental preservation. The title Y'Y, which means "water" or "river" in the Sateré Mawé dialect, reflects this homage to the forest and the rivers of Northern Brazil.
Recording
The album Y'Y was recorded partly at Estúdio Carranca, in Recife, Brazil, and at Maxine Studio, in Milan, Italy, with additional recordings in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Production was handled by Amaro Freitas, Laercio Costa, and Vinicius Aquino, the latter also responsible for engineering and mixing, along with Rinaldo Donati on engineering. The album's sound is enriched by the participation of notable guest musicians. Shabaka Hutchings contributes flute on the tracks "Y'Y" and "Encantados", Jeff Parker on guitar on "Mar de Cirandeiras", Brandee Younger on harp on "Gloriosa", and the rhythmic section is complemented by Aniel Someillan on bass and Hamid Drake on drums on the track "Encantados". The use of prepared piano, whistles, and varied percussion were techniques employed to evoke the sounds of the Amazon rainforest.
Songs
The nine tracks of Y'Y are an ode to nature and the enchanted beings of the forest. The opening track, "Mapinguari (Encantado da Mata)", evokes a forest deity with shimmering piano phrases and soft sounds of rattles and cymbals. On "Uiara (Encantada da Água) – Vida e Cura", dedicated to the spirit of the "water mother" and the pink river dolphins of the Amazon, Freitas uses prepared piano with tape and e-bow to create cascading rhythms that simulate the sound of water. "Dança dos Martelos" demonstrates a chaotic introduction that transforms into an explosion of frantic phrases from the piano's right hand, channelling the energy of a storm, with the use of clothes pegs and Amazonian seeds for percussion. The title track, "Y'Y", with Shabaka Hutchings' flute, blends tribal chants and rhythms, seeking to translate the ancestral power of the meeting of waters. The album concludes with "Encantados", a celebration of the African diaspora with the participation of Hamid Drake and Shabaka Hutchings, described as a vibrant "jam" and an urgent summary of the album's message.
Legacy
Y'Y was widely acclaimed by critics, being described as a "transcendent", "engaging", "captivating", and "superb" album, which expands the vision of Brazilian jazz. The work is seen as the moment when Amaro Freitas fully reveals himself to the world, consolidating his position as a singular voice in instrumental music. Critics highlighted the album's accessibility, despite its complexity, and its ability to evoke profound emotions in the listener. The album has been recognised as a "decolonised interpretation" of Brazilian jazz, with the potential to redefine perceptions of what the genre can be. Its positive reception led to it being considered one of the best albums of 2024 by various publications, with some critics naming it one of the best records of the year.
Tracks
Credits
Kris Chen, Martin Anderson
Vinicius Aquino
Laercio Costa
Amaro Freitas
Aniel Someillan
Hamid Drake
Shabaka Hutchings
Jeff Parker
Brandee Younger
Rinaldo Donati
Kevin Gray, Matthew Lutthans
Kevin Reeves
Rob Lewis
Ayana Contreras
Helder Tavares
Daniel Topete
Julye Jacomel
Podcasts
Emoção Criativa · Pedro Garcia de Moura
Pedro Garcia conversa com Amaro Freitas, pianista e compositor pernambucano que está revolucionando o jazz brasileiro ao misturar ritmos como o maracatu, o baião e o frevo em suas composições. Amaro compartilha sua trajetória inspiradora, refletindo sobre a relação entre improvisação, identidade cultural e espiritualidade na música.Amaro revela momentos decisivos de sua carreira, desde a infância
Videos
Grandes Lançamentos de Março de 2024!
Som de Peso
Analyses
Amaro Freitas: Y'Y Album Review | Pitchfork
pitchfork.com
The Brazilian pianist brings his dazzling polyrhythms—plus guests like Jeff Parker and Brandee Younger—to an album that fuses jazz, avant-garde composition, and indigenous Amazonian influences.
Amaro Freitas: Y'Y review - transcendent sounds inspired by the Amazon
theguardian.com
Y'Y finds Freitas at his most wide-ranging, embodying soft natural ambience as well as dramatic action on the piano. It is an album of mood music that refuses to settle, leaving the listener ...
Amaro Freitas - Y'Y - Reviews - Album of The Year
albumoftheyear.org
Music Reviews: Y'Y by Amaro Freitas released in 2024. Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz.
Amaro Freitas - Y'Y - Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
clashmusic.com
Amaro Freitas has been on the scene - as a solo artist - for just under a decade now. In that time, he's released three exquisite albums. On 2021's 'Sankofa' we felt like we were starting to see a future legend emerging. His new album 'Y'Y' feels like the point when Freitas is truly unveiled to the world. The album is filled with dense composition, but instead of a furrowed ...
REVIEW / AMARO FREITAS / Y'Y - The Pop Corporation
thepopcorps.co.uk
Amaro Freitas is clearly super talented, and has surrounded himself with people who can follow his lead. And yet, for all this virtuosic playing, 'Y'Y' ends up being an accessible album and won't leave you with a headache like some jazz records can.
