CHEMIN NEUF: O IGNEE SPIRITUS – BMC RECORDS ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT

Since the beginning of his long career, Gadó has been gradually leaving behind the forms and devices of mainstream jazz, but he is not heading towards free jazz, where most of his contemporaries have arrived: by eliminating the rhythm section, he creates transparent and puritanic chamber music textures, consisting of equal parts. Chemin Neuf's debut EP draws from the repertoire of European church music from the early Middle Ages to the late 19th century, with the Gregorian chant – bound in pitch, free in rhythm and tempo – in its focal point. The disc includes two works each by Hildegard von Bingen and Liszt, and two Gregorian chants. The texts of the movements outline the story of redemption from the conception of Christ to his death on the cross. The 14 strings of the two cellos and the guitar are played at roughly the same pitch, forming a mystical and moving, almost otherworldly beautiful blend with the alto voice, which is also deep and warm in tone.

This time, Gadó chose his bandmates according to the specific repertoire combining contemporary and medieval music. Judit Rajk, with her enchanting voice, has for decades been recognised as an expert on early and contemporary music, both in Hungary and abroad. Ditta Rohmann is perhaps best known for her highly unusual Baroque solo sonata recitals with cello and vocal improvisations, while Tamás Zétényi is one of the leading Hungarian stakeholders of the interpretation of contemporary music.