Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Javier Subatin: Autotelic

5

Javier Subatin: Autotelic

By

Sign in to view read count
Javier Subatin: Autotelic
The Wind and the Kite. Once upon a time there were two kite builders. They had studied their craft for many years and so they knew exactly how to build a kite. The spine had to be strong, combined with the spar, it is the skeleton of the kite, it is also called the frame. The cover, or the sail of the kite, was made of the finest materials, silk and rice paper so fragile it could easily be torn and yet so strong that even the fiercest wind could not blow it apart. The tail of the kite lit up like a rainbow in all colors, so it would always be seen in the sky. Finally, there was the bridal, a kite string attached to the frame and to this a flying line was connected, but there was no reel to control the movements of the kite.

When the two kite builders had finished the kite, they placed it on the top of a green hill and left. For many days nothing happened, but suddenly it took off and reached higher and higher. It was carried by an invisible air stream and sometimes moving high and sometimes falling, close to the ocean and the cliffs. The movements of the kite drew lines on the sky and these movements of the wind were called music. They would last for a certain time until the kite finally landed again.

This is a story about the music of guitarist Javier Subatin and pianist João Paulo Esteves da Silva. Their album is called Autotelic and it translates into a kind of music that has no will but its own. Even the titles are free of interpretation, carrying names such as "#6," "#11" and "#Solo." There is not even a logical order in the way the album starts and ends. It begins with "#6" and ends with "#7." Along the way, the musicians are supplemented by Desiderio Lazaro on tenor saxophone, André Rosinha on double bass and drummer Diogo Alexandre. They are all part of a melodic narrative where the music flows like a kite in the air, carried by its own will, and yet in the safe hands of the musicians who give the music the greatest trust: to let go and play without a reel.

Track Listing

#6; #2; #8; #3; #11; #5; #Solo; #7.

Personnel

Javier Subatin: guitar, composition; João Paulo Esteves da Silva: piano; Desidério Lázaro: tenor saxophone; André Rosinha: double bass; Diogo Alexandre: drums.

Album information

Title: Autotelic | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Sintoma Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.