Félix Rossy - Looking at the Surroundings (2020) [Hi-Res]

He says that Looking At The Surroundings is his way of opposing the current general climate of individualism in order to make a call for collectivity; for looking beyond oneself. The piece is the title track of the first disc by the Felix Rossy Quintet, recorded live at a club in Barcelona after two tours together. In order for this music to sound right - to fly like it does on Changes and Back and Forth, to caress you like it does on One for Ana, to envelope you majestically like it does on Looking at the Surroundings – complicity is everything. And this quintet, apart from being great musicians, are great friends. Felix and drummer Andreu Pitarch have been friends since they were ten years old. The pianist Davis Whitfield is one of those extraordinary musicians Felix occasionally brings over from the United States before anyone knows them. They’ve been friends since they were teenagers. Tomeu Gracias from Mallorca is one of the best kept local secrets. Felix met him when he arrived in Barcelona to study. Ben Tiberio, a rising star double bassist on the New York scene, closes out the circle on this quintet’s debut recording which also features guest artist Rita Payes who sings and plays trombone on two of the tracks. Felix describes the concert as “intimate, mysterious, and powerful”. I wish I had been there. Luckily, it was recorded for this album. ~ Roger Roca