The Free Jazz Collective

patrick brennan & Abdul Moimême — terraphonia
(Creative Sources, 2019)

PAUL ACQUARO
July 31, 2019

An absolutely unique album that finds two creative musicians finding new ways to communicate. Lisbon’s Abdul Moimême expresses himself through prepared guitar as he duets with the expansively thinking New York based saxophonist patrick brennan. In the first and title track, the two pull, push, strike, and blow any number of sounds from their instruments, but not without purpose. Each sound compliments the next, or the former, or even something yet to happen. It could be the distant amplified thump against the body of Moimême’s guitar, to which brennan reacts with short swirling lines, or the quiet squeak of the woodwind underscored by slashes of near white noise from the guitar.

This is hard to define music, but even when the harshest tones are at play, the duo presents them with care and precision. brennan compliments Moimême’s sudden tonal attacks with quickly formed ideas, while Moimême fills the silences that the saxophonist leaves with unexpected sounds. The track gotabrilhar stands out, the short track, mid-album, features a buzzing-bee sax and a darkly lit landscape painted by a droning and moaning guitar. 

original review at Free Jazz Collective (second of 3 reviews of recordings from Portugal)