May 2006

Desconsuelo, Pedro Giraudo (PGM) Remember the name Pedro Giraudo. At least remember his nickname, Mr. Vivo, which is also the name of his excellent 13-piece jazz band. If all else fails, play this remarkable new CD once—you won’t forget it. The experience is exhilarating. Giraudo is a talent that deserves to emerge onto the front ranks of the jazz scene. While he bills his music as Latin-based, the influence is South American. He is originally from Cordoba, Argentina, where Latin means tango, if it means anything. But make no mistake; this is, without qualification, innovative and exciting jazz. Two antecedents come to mind: Gerry Mulligan and Charles Mingus. Both remade what a previous generation would have called the big band sound, and both did it with lighter, tighter forces and distinctive, modern charts. Giraudo picks up that torch and runs with it. With a sound that is loose and relaxed, yet arranged throughout, soloists often jump out of the pack, playfully injecting their personality into the proceedings (Mingus). At other times, the influence is clearly classical, the performances virtuosic. And the music always swings (Mulligan). Giraudo loves to produce sounds you don’t expect; horns doubled with a bit of voice, a percussive bass rumbling from the piano. A good bass player, Giraudo is a bandleader of great promise. Desconsuelo is one of the best jazz recordings of the year. (Jeffrey Hildt – Encore The performing arts magazine)