Beledo – Flotando en el Vacío (Moonjune Records, 2024)
Beledo’s Flotando en el Vacío (Floating in Space) is a remarkable, boundary-pushing masterful work that highlights creativity and collaboration. The album features a stellar international lineup, including Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo, Asaf Sirkis, and Gary Husband. On this occasion, Beledo presents diverse musical genres, ranging from dazzling jazz fusion and improvisation to world music genres such as flamenco and tango.
The idea originated from producer and Moonjune label owner Leonardo Pavkovic, known for his ability to bring ambitious musical concepts to life. Beledo immediately recognized the opportunity to work with Benavent and Pardo, two of Spain’s finest flamenco jazz artists, both legends who worked with Paco de Lucía. Beledo aimed to craft compositions that respected his collaborators’ extraordinary skills while remaining distinctively his own. Beledo is a virtuoso guitarist who excels at acoustic and electric guitar. His peculiar electric guitar style features note bending techniques that recall the work of Alan Holdworth.
Flotando en el Vacío presents three types of pieces that vary considerably in musical direction. The first songs are world music-oriented, rooted in tradition. For example, “Candombesque” is inspired by irresistible Afro-Uruguayan candombe rhythms, while “Rauleando” is a passionate tribute to Uruguayan tango maestro Raúl Jaurena. Tracks like “From Within” incorporate flamenco elements, providing the perfect platform for Jorge Pardo’s expressive and exquisite Spanish-flavored flute work.
A key highlight is the reinterpretation of the Romani anthem “Djelem Djelem.” Beledo infused the soulful melody with rhythmic flamenco-inspired bulerías, shaped with Benavent’s expert flamenco bass lines and Pardo’s mesmerizing flute work.
The title track, “Flotando en el Vacío,” is part o what I call the fusion section of the album. It stems from Beledo’s early work with his band Siddhartha and reflects the artist’s fusion of jazz-rock influences with ancestral flamenco undertones.
In addition to the superb, structured, pre-written compositions, the album includes spontaneous pieces like “De Tardecita” and “Es Prohibeix Blasfemar,” born from improvisational sessions at La Casamurada, a historic fortified farmhouse turned-studio in eastern Spain. These sessions featured Gary Husband on piano and keyboards.
The album’s creation at La Casamurada was as memorable as the music itself. Beledo and his collaborators bonded over late-night discussions, shared meals, and musical storytelling. The camaraderie and shared passion among these highly skilled and talented musicians are palpable in the recordings.
Musicians: Beledo on electric guitar, Spanish guitar, acoustic piano, violin; Jorge Pardo on flute, tenor sax;
Carles Benavent on electric bass; and Asaf Sirkis on drums.
Special guests: Gary Husband on Fender Rhodes electric piano, Mini Moog (tracks 3.5.8); and Ramón Echegaray on candombe percussion (track 6).
Produced by Beledo and Leonard Pavkovic.
AI Images by Ainardo. Artwork and layout by Leonardo Pavkovic.
All photos by Borislav Kresojevic.,
Buy Flotando en el Vacío.