Luís Lopes' Humanization 4tet - Live in Madison

Eyal Hareuveni, AllAboutJazz

This is the third release of the 4tet after the self-titled and Electricity (Clean Feed/Ayler, 2008/2010) and was recorded at the end of a ten-dates East Coast tour in Madison, Wisconsin. Though the 4tet is credited as guitarist Luis Lopes' project it operates as a band with no leader. This recording present the quartet in full gear, bursting with flowing energy and passion, presenting its own blend of fiery free jazz, muscular funk and bluesy hard bop.

Within this energetic and inspired performance there are variations. The only cover, Arthur Blythe's "Bush Baby," features the soulful post-bop roots of the quartet members. Lopes' "Jungle Gymnastics" features himself in an intense, uncompromising interplay with tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado that references the raw one of Peter Brotzmann and Sonny Sharrock in the seminal Last Exit. The tight, telepathic rhythm section of the González brothers propel Lopes' distorted guitar lines on "Long March For Frida Kahlo" and Amado's powerful hard-bop soloing on "Two Girls" , melting supple, funky pulse with the direct and rough playing of Lopes and the muscular one of Amado. The quartet closes with the volcanic and dark "Dehumanization Blues," a vehicle for explosive solos by all the quartet members.