Event

Francisco Pais, Lotus Project

After three highly acclaimed albums, Portuguese born guitarist Francisco Pais has been exploring new music relentlessly with some of the most influential young lions in NYC. He is a creative tour-de-force who never ceases to try push the limits of what can be done in music.
Francisco and his group have been performing together for over 10 years, and the resulting instinctive, organic rapport shines through on Verde. The lineup for this album features saxophonists Myron Walden and Godwin Louis, longtime partner in crime drummer Ferenc Nemeth, pianist Julian Shore and bassist Connor Schultze.

The sonic landscape presented on Verde is quite different from Franciscos 2012 and 2014 releases. This is a guitar heavy album, and the music is presented without edits or isolation, as captured in pristine detail by engineer Mike Perez at Big Orange Sheep Studios in Brooklyn and mixed by Grammy award winner and engineering guru James Farber at Shelter Island Studios in Manhattan. Senior mastering engineer Greg Calby at Sterling Sound in NYC did the final polish of Verde. Greg is a Grammy award winner who mastered artists such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Paul Simon to name a few.
While not a tribute recording in any way, this recording shows Francisco honoring all the guitarists who have inspired and informed his completely unique approach to the instrument and compostitions. Youll heard a myriad of sounds such as slide guitar, a screaming bluesy distortion, acoustic guitar, some drumn bass guitar synth sounds with reverse delays and a warm jazz vibrato guitar sound complementing his compositions in this album. Francisco says, This album embodies the deep inspiration I have taken over the years from my earliest guitar heroes, including Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton to name a few." Francisco filters his myriad influences (indie rock, R&B, jazz, Brazilian folk) into a singular, electrifying sound on Verde.

WHAT THEY SAY:

Francisco Pais is an incredibly talented composer and arranger; he is dedicated and I support him and believe in him. Esperanza Spalding

Francisco's guitar playing is tossed with a challenging and tasteful blend of beautiful harmony and melody lines. What a great player.
Lionel Loueke (Blue Note recording artist / Herbie Hancock guitarist)

Francisco Pais can really play up a storm. Lyle Robinson, jazzguitarlife.com

He is an amazingly talented guitarist and band leader. Bob Karlovits The Pittsburg Tribune Review

While Pais is a stellar guitarist and a compositional beast, he now assumes the role of vocalist... One does not have to practice yoga or any other meditative practice to gain insight or to have special appreciation for this delightful release. It is rare that an album contains such honesty and passion that both a visceral and cerebral connection can be made by all that should take the time to simply listen...Incredibly inventive and highly entertaining. A stunning recording on more levels than I have space to print... Brent Black, criticaljazz.com

...Pais has energy, ambition and desire. He proves through his music that the creative spirit can release thousands of impressions at once. His guitar soars in passionate displays that weave strong ties with his band mates. Their cohesive union makes for a strong foundation, which in turn releases a creative tide...Pais establishes a magical ballad countenance that enchants. Jim Santella All About Jazz

Despite this album's title, it's not a monochromatic musical affair. In fact, it's one of the most kaleidoscopic offerings to touchdown in 2016" ...."There are certainly signature elements in his work, but he likes to toy with them, continually bending across the axis of sound and style. Pais travels down country roads and delivers hints of Appalachian folk music ("Lookit"), traffics in evolving acoustic purity and Andalusian breezes ("Devotion"), puts his guitar up against saxophone on a dark and bluesy bender ("Going South"), and places his own Wayne Coyne-ish vocals atop rocking constructs ("Sunset Full Of Moons"). By traveling these many and varied roads, and many others not cited here, he successfully makes the case that identity isn't built around a single sound or notion. Dan Bilawsky AAJ

Guitarist Francisco Pais comes from a small town in Portugal where every shade of green seems to burst forth from the land. On his new album Verde, numerous threads from guitar history comprise the compositions, weaving an aural quilt of engaging sounds. You hear shades of Hendrix, Waters, Clapton and all the jazz titans you can name. You also hear Pais expressive voice and his extraordinary band, which includes Ferenc Nemeth on drums and Myron Walden on tenor sax. Far from easy listening, Pais music is easy to listen to. And enjoy. Recordedwithout edits or isolation, Verde is pure pleasure. By Michael Konik