Canhoto de Pé

Since his first recordings in 2009 Thiago França has covered a remarkable variety of genres, from the Afro-jazz-punk of MetaL MetaL and carnival fervour of his Charanga group to Afrobeat with Tony Allen. On his latest, he’s working with a stripped-down jazz trio. Despite the minimal line-up, there’s force and intensity on show. França explores familiar themes from his live shows; on the title-track, at just under nine minutes long, Marcelo Cabral lays down an elegant bassline and Wellington ‘Pimpa’ Moreira’s precise and uncluttered drumming moves us along, allowing França’s saxophone to create exciting noises. Whoops can be heard in the recording, and, as each member solos, the possibilities and rhythms become more expansive. There’s plenty more on this superb album, Juçara Marçal gives us a breather on the minimalist ‘Dor Elegante’, originally by Itamar Assumpção, and the hip-shaking ‘Ajuntó de Xangô’ features two members of Candomblé masters Aguidavi do Jêje.