Recommended: Vitor Goncalves Quartet – “Vitor Goncalves Quartet”

The debut from pianist Vitor Gonçalves keeps to a nice chatter.  It’s talkative music.  There is a strong sense of dialog directed from musician to listener, and the tone is frequently one of a sunny disposition.  But the arresting quality of Vitor Gonçalves Quartet is how the pianist plants little pockets of introspection throughout the upbeat tunes.  It’s not so apparent on opening track “Sem Nome,” which is plenty contemplative, but there are moments on tracks like “Cortelyou Road” and “Samba Do Perdão” that enter a quieter state in between passages when the quartet lights a fire under things.  Those shifts in tone, though subtle, change the atmosphere dramatically, and it’s what gives enjoyable tunes a touch of intrigue.

A Brazilian expat now living in NYC, Gonçalves brings some influences from both home turfs, old and new.  Renditions of  “Samba Do Perdão” and “Se É Por Falta De Adeus” fall nicely into line with modern straight-ahead originals like “Winter Landscapes” and “De Cazadero Ao Recife,” and all of it radiates the charm and warmth of an enjoyable jazz piano session.

You really can’t go wrong with this one.

Your album personnel:  Vitor Gonçalves (piano), Todd Neufeld (guitar), Thomas Morgan (bass) and Dan Weiss (drums).

Released on Sunnyside Records.

Listen to more of the album at the label’s Bandcamp page.

Jazz from NYC.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon | eMusic