JEFF PLATZ / PACHO DÁVILA /VASCO FURTADO

JazzToday Special

JEFF PLATZ / PACHO DÁVILA / VASCO FURTADO

Incomingdocuments a freely improvised encounter between Boston-based guitarist Jeff Platz, Ahaus-based Colombian tenor saxophonist Pacho Dávila, and Portuguese drummer Vasco Furtado. Platz has played with Dávila before, but this is their first recording together.

The album came about after “a brief conversation and a much-needed cup of coffee”—without any prior discussion of the musical approach. After listening to*Illusions And Lamentations*, he had a sense of what was to come: In May 2025, the three played for two hours without a break in Cologne until they all felt “a little exhausted.”

The result is five “Extreme Measures”—which is also the title of one of the pieces. The trio relentlessly ventures into the most extreme sonic realms; Dávila’s occasional playful, melodic gestures are immediately transformed by Platz and Furtado into fiery, dissonant storms. One wonders why the three were only “a little exhausted” after such a wild session. (Eyal Hareuveni)

Francisco “Pacho” Dávilais a Colombian composer and saxophonist known for his experimental approach, which combines the avant-garde language of free jazz with the rhythmic and melodic traditions of Colombian folklore. He plays primarily tenor and soprano saxophone and leads his main project, Canto Mestizo, which has focused on collective improvisation since 2004. Internationally, he has collaborated with, among others, the German trombonist Paul Hubweber and the Portuguese drummer Vasco Furtado. He views his music as “spontaneous compositions”—instinctive, unpredictable, labyrinthine.

Vasco Furtadois a Portuguese drummer and improviser based in Cologne. He received his training at the Hot Clube de Portugal and the Lisbon Conservatory of Music before earning his master’s degree at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. His musical work spans the realms of free jazz as well as improvised and experimental music—as a sideman and collaborator in projects such as the José Lencastre Trio or O’questrada, but also in silent film score performances and international collectives. He is the founder and an active member of the Phonogram Unit label.

Jeff Platzis an American avant-garde jazz guitarist and composer whose style combines melodic lyricism with harsh, experimental soundscapes. Based in the Boston/New York area and a regular presence on European stages, he performs at international festivals, including New York’s “What is Jazz” and the Münster International Jazz Festival. His playing combines the energy of his punk rock roots with the freedom of jazz improvisation. He has collaborated with avant-garde greats such as Daniel Carter, as well as composers Christian Wolff and Raven Chacon. His discography includes numerous releases on labels such as Skycap Records and Evil Rabbit, including albums like*Panoramic*and*Theory of Colors*.

Lineup:
Jeff Platz – guitar
Pacho Dávilla – saxophone
Vasco Furtado – drums

€15 regular price, €10 reduced price; Free admission for those under 20