Mazam - Pilgrimage

2022 release

Some of the most interesting artists of the Porto jazz scene in Portugal, namely João Mortágua, Carlos Azevedo, Miguel Ângelo and Mário Costa, join forces as the band Mazam to celebrate the idea of path, discovery and adventure. But if you understand this purpose as a way to deal with factors concerning process and its complexities, this concept comes with a surprise: “Pilgrimage” is all about playing, and in the double sense of the word. Playing an instrument to create music and playing with toys or games like children do. The quartet even quote violinist and philosopher Stephen Nachmanovitch to highlight this approach: “Musicians play with sound and silence. Eros plays with lovers. Gods play with the universe. Children play with everything they can get their hands on.” Acting as kids, these four amazing musicians use simple motives to arrive at unexpected places, as far from the starting points as you can (not!) imagine.