patricia brennan septet at nublu, nyc, september 4
photography by ©Clara Pereira / text by Filipe Freitas
On Wednesday, September 4th, vibraphonist and composer Patricia Brennan celebrated the release of her septet album, Breaking Stretch, at Nublu in Manhattan’s East Village. Although the concert was scheduled for 7 PM, it began 40 minutes late, but the delay did nothing to dampen the contagious energy that filled the room—a vibrant energy reminiscent of the album itself, which is undoubtedly a career high for Brennan. Bringing the vibraphonist’s intricate and exhilarating compositions to life were saxophonists Jon Irabagon and Mark Shim, trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, bassist Kim Cass, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and master Cuban percussionist Mauricio Herrera.
The concert kicked off with “5 Suns”, a vibrant, odd-metered modern piece, rich with flawlessly crafted collective sections, flying solos, and an infectious Latin rhythm. Next was “Breaking Stretch”, a composition inspired by mathematical concepts and filled with shifting tempos and some fascinating expansions and contractions. “555”, motivated by her zodiac sign and concepts of astrology, captivated the audience with its dizzying pulses, while “Palo de Oros” shook the room with its vertiginous rhythms and exotic blend of instrumental flavors. Brennan, dancing while expertly handling the mallets, was visibly pleased with the performance, and the audience shared in her delight. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay for the second half, but what we experienced was more than enough to confirm the extraordinary quality of both the music and the musicians involved in this project.