Marca Passo (2025)

"A full fifty years since their self-titled debut, Rio jazz-funksters Azymuth release their latest studio recording with only one original member left in the trio, the incomparable electric bass maestro Alex Malheiros, but with their essential group sound entirely intact. Unlike other international jazz-rock or fusion acts from the 70s, Azymuth have kept sounding topical not because their signature sound has changed with the times, but rather because it has remained more or less the same, with knobs – and Fender Rhodes, slap-bass and novelty syn-drums – on. Their delicate, intricately tessellated instrumentals, sometimes accompanied by an additional topping of wordless vocals, were also impeccably designed: environments of musical atmosphere, with grooves you could live by as much as dance to. It was partly this ambient quality with vintage elements that helped Azymuth to find a whole new audience, providing an exotic, summery soundtrack for downtempo chill-axing in a Balearic mode." (UK Jazz News)