SLAMCD553 A Favola da Medusa feat. George Haslam – Dada Dandy

The Lisbon-based group A Favola da Medusa was formed in 2010 by multi-instrumentalist Miguel Martins and guitarist Filipe Homem Fonseca, dealing with Dadaist free-rock aesthetics, with harpist Ana Dias completing a unique trio. ‘Dada Dandy’ features seven live tracks recorded between 2010-12 with guests including the British baritone saxophonist George Haslam.

The group takes opportunities to work with visiting musicians from different genres. In March 2012 on a short (less than 40 hours!) visit to Portugal, George Haslam played four concerts including the gig with the trio at Bar Teatro A Barraca, recorded live and heard on 3 tracks of this disc. The remaining tracks plot the trio’s work during the previous two years with other guests Sónia Montenegro, Bernardo Nascimento and Rebecca Gradissimo.

Ana Isabek Dias: harp
Filipe Homem Fonseca: guitar, bass, pedals
Miguel Martins: piano, melodica, bass
George Haslam: baritone saxophone, tarogato
Sónia Montenegro: laptop
Bernardo Nascimento: bass
Rebecca Gradissimo: piano

“This collection of live and studio sessions is what avant-garde is all about. Soundscapes that drone and shout, dissonance that morphs into tiny expressions and massive constructs, and the sudden emergence of melodic interludes from the brutal din of dissonance that switch the perspective 180 degrees. Supremely engaging.” – Dave Sumner, Wondering Sound

“Dandy packs plenty of murk and darkness into three-quarters of an hour, and it makes for a provocative and unusual excursion into free improvisation.” – Stuart Kremsky, Cadence Magazine

Tracks 1, 2, 3 recorded at Bar Teatro A Barraca, Lisbon, Portugal, 3rd March 2012
Tracks 4, 5 recorded at Bar Teatro A Barraca, Lisbon, Portugal, 2nd April 2011
Track 6 recorded at Bar Teatro A Barraca, Lisbon, Portugal, 1st October 2011
Track 7 recorded at Bar da Cave, Lisbon, Portugal 24th September 2011
Recorded by Joanna Moura and Sandra Filipe, mixed by Filipe Homem Foseca

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