CRITICS   and   REVIEWS

 

 H o m e - P a g e

 

                          ON THIS BOOTOM PAGE,  A LIST OF THE REVIEW WRITERS AND  MAGAZINES  PUBLICATION

 

 

              CARLOS " BECHEGAS "  RECORDS  REVIEWS

          

( Bechegas ) it was signaled through an astonishing virtuosity, without futility, in a first Leo album, followed by, a remarkable solo record in " Flute Landscapes " JAZZ MAGAZINE.( 35 )

 

I was surprised and tickled repeatedly by this CD… I would recommend, especially those who don't like flutes. THE  IMPROVISER ( 8 )

 

His originality and virtuosity are just as striking. … slowly establishing himself as a creative force, Flute Landscapes showed all the extent of his talent. … a glossary of the modern flute. ALL M. GUIDE ( 24)

 

Forget any preconception that the flute is a pastoral instrument. It's difficult to conceive of a more thorough documentation of the flute's range of sound… Bechegas appears to relish the opportunity to carve new pathways in sonic formation. CADENCE MAGAZINE ( 31 )

 

Going mano à mano with two of the founders of European Free Music ( Schlippenbach / Kowald )  is no challenge for the faint-hearted Carlos Bechegas has the talent and technique to hold his own in these situations. # Ken Waxman ONE FINAL NOTE  UnAMERICAN ACTIVITIES #16 27 September 2004 ( 62 )

 

With a multiplicity of effects Carlos open ups other technical possibilityes. A sort of work that hasn´t been developed since Dolphy or the Bob Downes/ Lyn Dobson school. He deserves your listening as he did retain our attention. ( Philippe. Renaud -  issue nº 30 IMPROJAZZ )

 

Bechegas has the agility and versatility to activate the bassist's vast inventivenest, like a mosquito successfully goading a bull. WIRE ( 3 )

 

Bechegas is a mighty force in this union…brings out of the flute seemingly impossible tones depicting rage and anger. This highly challenging encounter of like-minded musicians touches every crack and crevice of the emotional spectrum, making it a representative of creative art at its best. CADENCE - ( Jan. 2005 ) - Frank Rubolino (64 )

 

What strikes is the independence play of Bechegas, between the various techniques.. true multiphonic tracks of the most various sonorities. A remarkable musician with an attaching Humor CITIZEN JAZZ ( 32 )

 

These secrets reveal in 13 parts are a rather astonishing meeting… P.Kowald remain an adventurer in " L'Ame ". REVUE & CORRIGÉE ( a )

 

In Bechegas' hands various flutes become breeding vessels for an astonishing ecology of sounds. Attentive ears are likely to glean a great deal from the stories he has to tell. ONE FINAL NOTE ( 2 )

 

Without exaggeration … this excellent Portuguese musician define again the flute play. … with an extraordinary unknown amplitude of sounds. This instrument required fresh impulses, Bechegas sets it. Fascinating. ( Flute Landscapes ) a rarely stretching recital. JAZZ LIVE ( 34 )

 

  The flute has a hard time being accepted in free improv circles -- Bechegas thrive  to find new state-of-the-art ways to make it fit in, http://www.allmusic.com / François Couture - ALL MUSIC GUIDE

 

…the ( Bechegs ) sheer range of sounds, with and without complementing electronics, is simply amazing. What is attractive is that, unlike Kowald, Bechegas is limited by his breath, The effect is fascinating, surprising, and intriguing.  Budd Kopman ALL ABOUT  JAZZ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=16497 ( 80 )

 

The Bechegas's speech, profuse but firmly directs, using of all the techniques. Power and brilliance, speed and construction conspire so much, so that this first meet ( Carlos / Kowald ), succeeded already, and on the field delectable, seems to engage a fertile future. JAZZ MAGAZINE. ( 35 )

 

Open Secrets CD, an extended dissertation of energy-driven creativity. This is quite an exciting and unusual recording. Bechegas and Kowald converge on the battlefield in perfect synchronization. CADENCE MAGAZINE ( 31 )

Bechegas is a highly creative improviser, with many extended techniques up his sleeve and a certain sense of humor.. The shortest pieces are often the most vehement and surprising: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k06wtratkl3x~T1  François Couture -  ALL MUSIC GUIDE

 ( Bailey and Bechegas ) Two masters of 21^st century improvised music suspend most conventions associated with their instruments and the Jazz genre;. ( May )  interactive Magazine – by James D. Armstrong, Jr. JAZZ  NOW

Bechegas is a virtuoso who has established his entire reputation through total improvisation, sharing with Eric Dolphy a sinuous quality and a vocalizing approach to the instrument, also present in contemporary music   n° 547  Avril 04   2004.Gerard Rouy -JAZ Z  MAGAZINE

 ( Bechegas ) coax more out of the instrument than one might think humanly possible. …. surprisingly rich diversity of timbre that keeps things interesting throughout.  MAIO / 04 John Kelman - site ALL MUSIC GUIDE

…these CDs showcase the limits to which woodwinds can be pushed… the sessions enunciate the advanced language of 21st century improvisers.- Ken Waxman www.jazzword.com  - JAZZ WEEKLY   

A very interesting and a pertinant work, by which you can feel conquered or even charmed… an ignored talent recommended to hear. JAZZ NOTES ( 19 )

 His ability to create sonic terrains for the group to explore is remarkable The flute playing is marvelous ( Thom Jurex- internet music enciclopaedia expert review - www.allmusic.com ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Bechegas knows all the secrets and how to practice transgression…. So let me pay tribute to… his undeniable love for music in motion. …( Open Secrets ) just different. Historical, inevitably.   JOSÉ DUARTE ( 5 )

...( Bechegas ) constantly pushing the limits of his art. The listener is quickly sucked into his universe, discovering with each cut more and more facets. Bechegas style truly is his own… open ups other technical possibilityes. He deserves your listening. ALL M. GUIDE ( 7 )

 …a rich bank of sounds - the magic flute indeed.. His trio IK*Zs( 3 ) rewrites the rules for real-time playing.  CODA (18) 

 Some free improv records are inhabited by a magical atmosphere. CD Open Secrets is one of them. ( Bech / Kowald )They were born to play together. Strongly recommended. ALL MUSIC GUIDE ( 1 )

 Bechegas has a raremethod of blowing into the flute, ..wich produces intriguing, very interesting music. JOSÉ DUARTE ( 12 )

Bechegas is as impressive as Eberhard Blum in his work for Hat hut. He can create a havoc of bat-notes in one part of is instrument, while puffing low notes on another. ( Oct. / 99  ) OTL - COMMUNICATION 

The Carlos Work, surprise, by the abnormal flute speache. Unforeseen.… sucesseful instrumental and compositional innovation. MANUEL GUIMARÃES ( 15 )

This marvelous 13 part suite record, underscore the importance of contrast and dialogue in the improvised art… narratives that is unprecedented in improvised music. ( flute ) singularly vocal approach, and a virtuoso-level knowledge of intervals relationships. JAZZ NOW - USA ( 33 )

A musician of great technical virtuosity in the service of a heightened creativity. …creatively engaged in the struggle against the physical and material limits of the instrument, he achieves true notability in such pieces as ( - M. J. Veloso / journalist - Portug news-paper 29 / 1 / 2000  ) DIÁRIO NOTICIAS

Portuguese flutist Carlos Bechegas creates an impressive variety of sounds using pitch-to-MIDI controllers on Right Off. Abril '03  Bill Shoemaker  - JAZZ TIMES   

He uses. . . extensive flute techniques, which allow a flute to be more than a flute; he possesses the laudable virtue of expanding his map of sounds,(Rui E. Paes / journalist and musicologue. Issue nº 51)  MONITOR

Bechegas flute solo, in a astonishing landscapes multiplicity, suggested by intentionaly and contrasted short images. (- Portug. Luis freixo / editor da label audEo - in issue nº 18  )  MINIMAL

We could listen for hours to the exclusive sounds of an electric guitar and the flutist Carlos Bechegas. …   extends his flute playing to a range of intersections, diverging productively from those of Kirk, Dolphy and Newton ( Janvier nº 91 ) - Guillaume TARCHE -  IMPROJAZZ

Bechegas...  impressive for the techniques he developed and uses with enthusiasm and well them... His CD «Flute Landscapes» is recommendable to everybody,  ( - Portug. José Duarte, issue: 99/09/30 )  VISÃO

 

         COMMENTARYES:  FESTIVALS PROGRAMMES, MAGAZINES, BOOKLETS

Kowald brings on the bass new unorthodox playing methods …  Bechegas, covers his timbered phrasing with a great variety of colours and effects. Together, they create bright and rugged landscapes where the listener is carried away in the maëlstrom of their passionate and generous play. ( / french " Jazz Magazine " journ. - in " Open Secrets" CD booklet - April 2001 )   - GÉRARD ROUY 

Kowald is moreover a gifted musician, an inventor. ..So let me pay tribute to the unsupported courage of Bechegas and his undeniable love for music in motion. … ( Open S. ) Just different. Historical, inevitably. ( journalist, radio and television programmers producer - in " Open Secrets " CD booklet - Abril 2001) JOSÉ DUARTE 

A chance to listen something exciting, known these ( Bechegas / Kowald ) two improvisers qualityes.

…with rare exigency sense, making each concert a remarkable unique act.

(  Festivals music prog.director- and producer - in Cultural Center Programme; October 1999 ) RUI NEVES 

His transversal flute has been transfigured by an electronic mechanism which allows him to develop even further his already notable creative capacities and acoustic techniques. His evident virtuosity fit perfectly with the impetuous bassist Peter Kowald. ( critic - in music news-paper " Blitz ", date: 12.10.99 )  VICTOR AFONSO 

Carlos Bechegas is a great technical skill that seeks the limits of is instrument,

(  in " Ó da Guarda " festival programme - date: October 1999 )  RUI E. PAES       

 

_____LIST  of the  REVIEWS  PUBLICATION

 

CD 3  ( 2001 )  " OPEN SECRETS  " duo -  BECHEGAS / KOWALD________

a ) -( REVUE & CORRIGÉE - Pierre Durr - issue 49 / Sept. )

1 -- ( ALL MUSIC GUIDE - François Couture internet enciclopedia www.allmusic,com )

2-- ( ONE FINAL NOTE - review by Derek Taylor / issue #7-8 summer/fall 2001 )

3 -- ( WIRE - by - Julian Cowley - issue nº 210 -August / 01 )

4 - ( GÉRARD ROUY / french " Jazz Magazine " journalist - in " Open Secrets" CD booklet - April 2001 )

5 - ( JOSÉ DUARTE - jornalist, radio and T.V. programmes producer -in" Open Secrets " CD booklet - 2001

 

CD 2   (1998 )   solo   " FLUTE LANDSCAPES "    audEo-  0298___________

6- ( GERARD ROUY - Jazz Magazine journalist - in " Open Secrets " CD booklet text - 2001 )

7 - ( ALL MUSIC GUIDE internet enciclopédia - www.allmusic com-- by François Couture )

8 - ( THE - IMPROVISER ( by - Jeph Jerman internet site - www.the -improviser.com )

9 - ( RUBBERNECK - by Gus Garside http://www.btinternet.com/~rubberneck/cdlist7.html )

11- ( DIÁRIO NOTICIAS - Portug. - M. J. Veloso / journalist - in news-paper 29 / 1 / 2000 )

12 - ( JOSÉ DUARTE / journalist, radio and TV programme. producer - in " Capital " news-p, )

13 - ( BAD ALCHEMY - Rigo Dittmann )

14 - ( MONITOR - Portug.- Rui E. Paes / journalist and musicologue. Issue nº 51 )

15 -( MANUEL GUIMARÃES / Porto Jazz Fest. Artistic Director - in " Flute Landscapes " CD booklet )

16 - ( MINIMAL - Portug. Luis freixo / editor da label audEo - in issue nº 18 )

17 - ( VISÃO - Portug. José Duarte, issue: 99/09/30 )

 

CD - 1( 1997 ) " CARLOS BECHEGAS Projects "Leo lab - 032_____________

18 - ( CODA - R. Macilroy )

19 - ( JAZZ NOTES. )

22 - ( MONITOR - Portug. / Rui E. Paes critic and musicologue - in from AnAnAnA label - nº 36 Aug. 97 )

23 - ( MINIMAL - Portug. / Luis Freixo , record editor from audEo label - issue nº 18 )

LAST REVIEWS_____________________________________________________

( 31 ) CADENCE MAGAZINE - USA ( Frank Rubolino - vol 28 nº 6 june 2002 )

( 32 ) CITIZEN JAZZ -- Charles de Saint Andre

( http://www.citizenjazz.com/ebn.asp?pid=54&id_cd=181 )

( 33 ) JAZZ NOW - USA ( CD 3 ) by James D. Armstrong, Jr.

New Sounds Section of the March edition of Jazz Now interactive

( 34 ) JAZZ LIVE ( site ) Han Schweiger ( Nº 133 / 01)

( 35 ) JAZZ MAGAZINE - L. Renou ( Nº 529 Septemb / o2 )