Vitor Pereira Quintet – Jung
(Self-release, on 7 October 2022*. Album Review.)
Porto-born, now London-based guitarist Vitor Pereira is perhaps not as well-known as one might expect given the level of compositional and musicianship skills evidenced in this, his quartet’s fourth album. Clearly possessing an inquiring mind himself, Pereira has named his album after the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung. Few would disagree that Jung’s theories have augmented, in some areas revolutionised present day psychiatric and psychological practices.
Starting out as most do, in Classical music, following his participation in Jazz seminars and lessons with the likes of Pat Metheny and Gilad Hekselman, in 2004 Pereira left Portugal to study Jazz performance at Middlesex University. Since then, he has been active in both local and European Jazz scenes, performing with Asaf Sirkis, Binker Golding, Marc Demuth and Andre Canniere amongst others. Since covid times in addition Pereira has begun scoring for film.
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that such times have also allowed this thoughtful album concept to emerge. Pereira notes: “ ..I was brainstorming about the direction I wanted to take.. I was interested in writing music which somehow induced a journey moving organically through improvised and written moments… especially exploring the contrast between darkness and luminosity. When I thought of Jung there was a ‘click’, it made perfect sense.” A year later this album was born, each tune in it named after a Jungian concept.**
The seven-track album opens with the melodic Individuation which had a lovely open feel that is appropriate given the tune’s title and to this listener’s ears initially brought to mind the highly individuated sound of Seb Rochford/ Polar Bear. The Hero follows, some charming double bass setting up a brisk swing, Pereira allowing himself more prominence, even temporarily wresting charge of the melody from the saxes before an attractive shimmering coda. After initial counterpoint (to this listener’s ears at least) there followed much smooth passing of the melodic line back and forth between instruments, in keeping with the title, The Collective Unconscious.
Centrally placed in the album is the slower, nice-and-easy feel Dreams, Myths and Fairytales, followed by the pensive The Shadow. Penultimate track The Mandala is longest at over ten minutes, giving the band more time to stretch including some borderline chaotic fun times towards the end. Final track Synchronicity is another charmer and is, as is often the case in this album, especially attractive when the guitar takes on the melody.
However, the whole band play deftly and cohesively, Pereira’s standout guitar having a warmth and a clarity of style. The compositions and album concept are interesting and overall, this is a lyrical, thoughtful and open sound. The album’s launch tour is about to happen, so if you are anywhere close to these venues, please do yourself a favour and get on down!
*Vitor Pereira also released on 7th October an EP, Electric Chamber. A brief review of this will appear in the near future on this website.
**As a former psychiatrist this writer would be delighted to wax eloquent about Jungian theories, however in the interests of brevity the reader, if curious, is merely urged to treat themselves and research Jung’s written works for themselves.
28th October – Bmusic, Birmingham
12th November – Shrewsbury Jazz Network, Shrewsbury
6th December – Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London
Band line-up: Chris Williams (alto sax), Alam Nathoo (tenor sax), Mick Coady (bass), Adam Teixeira (drums), Vitor Pereira (guitar, composition)