Alejandro Brittes – (L)ESTE (Alejandro Brittes, 2022)
Alejandro Brittes, an accordionist, composer, and researcher from Argentina’s coastal area, released his ninth album titled “(L)ESTE” on September 30, 2022. The recording is a unique combination of Chamamé rhythm and early baroque music.
Brittes collaborated with baroque conductor Fernando Cordella to arrange the music, bringing a new aesthetic language to Chamamé. The album consists of eight tracks, recorded live with a mix of period instruments like harpsichord, oboe, and viola da gamba, as well as Chamamé instruments such as seven-string guitar, double bass, accordion, and percussion.
The compositions are mostly original, with two baroque sonatas by Domenico Zipoli and a track by guitarist André Ely. “(L)ESTE” was recorded in a church in Canoas, Brazil, aiming to recreate the sound aesthetics of a missionary church.
Brittes’ work is rooted in his extensive research on the origins of Chamamé, and he published a book on the subject in 2021. The album is accompanied by a web documentary that explores the creative process and behind-the-scenes of the recording.
Alejandro Brittes is known for his distinct accordion playing style and has performed around the world, spreading Chamamé to various countries. He has collaborated with renowned artists and received recognition for his instrumental skills and contributions to the genre.
Alejandro Brittes on accordion; Fernando Turconi Cordella on harpsichord; André Ely on seven-string guitar; Carlos Eduardo de Césaro on double bass; Diego Schuck Biasibetti, cello soloist; Ricardo Arenhalt on percussion; Giovani dos Santos, first violin; Marcio Cecconello, second violin; Fernando Turconi Cordella on harpsichord and baroque organ; Diego Biasibetti on Baroque cello; Alexandre Ritter on violone; Guilherme de Camargo on Baroque guitar; Javier Balbinder, oboe soloist; and Diego Schuck Biasibetti on viola da gamba.
Buy (L)ESTE
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.