For those not in the know, drummer Vanderlei Pereira leads the dynamic Brazilian jazz sextet Blindfold Test, which boasts unusual front line of woodwinds and wordless vocal, backed by a burning rhythm section.

Their brand new album, Vision Rhythm (out May 22nd, 2020 via Jazzheads Records), features diverse styles of Brazilian music filtered through a Jazz sensibility, and includes Vanderlei's originals as well as compositions by some of Brazil's greatest contemporary artists.

Furthermore, all the musicians of Blindfold Test wear blindfolds during the performance of some of the band's more challenging material in order to "level the playing field" ... for Vanderlei, if I hadn't mentioned it before, is actually blind himself.

1. 'Misturada (Mixing)'
2. 'Ponto de Partida (Point of Departure)'
3. 'Chapeu Palheta (Straw Hat)'
4. 'Mercado Modelo'
5. 'O Que Ficou (What Remains)'
6. 'The Cry and The Smile'
7. 'Partido Leve'
8. 'Corrupiao (Oriole)'
9. 'Les Matins de Rixensart (The Mornings of Rixenhart)'
10. 'Alma Brasileira (Brazilian Soul)'
11. 'De Volta a Festa (Back to the Party)'
12. 'Vision for Rhythm'

Opening with the frenetic, yet controlled 'Misturada (Mixing)' they back that up seamlessly with much of the same for 'Ponto de Partida (Point of Departure),' the dance floor passion of 'Chapeu Palheta (Straw Hat),' and then both the acoustic guitar-led hipsway of 'Mercado Modelo' and the late night, smooth jazz flow of 'O Que Ficou (What Remains).'

Next up is the atmospheric wanderings of 'The Cry and The Smile' which is followed by the upbeat, perky 'Partido Leve,' the wood wind elegance of 'Corrupiao (Oriole),' and then one of my own personal favorites, the quietness of mood found within the artful ambiance of 'Les Matins de Rixensart (The Mornings of Rixenhart).'

Then we get another quite magnificently vibrant track in the form of 'Alma Brasileira (Brazilian Soul),' before the album rounds out with the all-encompassing, bouncy world beauty of 'De Volta a Festa (Back to the Party),' coming to a close with the drum-led, showcasing brilliance of 'Vision for Rhythm.'

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