Happy Deluxe
GLM, 2024
9/10
A body of work that was inspired by Quadro Nuevo’s travels to Buenos Aires, the Balkans, the Aeolian Islands and Iceland, the 16 songs here welcome plenty of guests that complements Mulo Francel, Andreas Hinterseher and D.D. Lowka’s inimitable talents.
The elegant and breezy “Quadro Samba” opens the listen with Chris Gall’s contributions on piano, which suits the rich melodies from Paulo Morello’s flowing guitar, and it isn’t long until “Morello Beach” welcomes Tim Collins’ glowing vibraphone amid Francel’s lovely sax playing.
Halfway through, “Pervenche” benefits much from Philipp Schiepek’s meticulous guitar, as Lowka’s playful bass makes an impression, while “Rio Sunrise” recruits Marco Lobo’s worldly percussion, which helps cultivate the cultured intimacy that makes great use of Hinterseher’s accordion.
Landing close to the end, the soft demeanor of “Before Your Eyes Were Open” is packed with cautious vibes, charming accordion and frisky bass plucking, and “Don’t Worry Be Happy” exits with a very clever take on the McFerrin original that’s just as uplifting as the first time you heard it.
A record that continues their eclectic and globally aware ideas that have been impressing us since 1996, Quadro Nuevo’s Latin influenced jazz sounds just as luminous all these decades later.
Travels well with: Christian Winninghoff- Cloud Sounds; Giovanni Costello- In Alto Mare