© Louay Dabous
Armando Luongo, for the past twenty years, has been the man behind the best sax, guitar, trumpet and piano players, Belgian and international alike. His reputation as sideman drummer needs no reinforcement. But here he comes, this time as the leader of his own band, that’ll surprise a few.
A drummer, for most people, is about beat, pulse, rhythmic tension. With Armando Luongo, it’s also about melody and a sure gift for storytelling. In between spirited, optimist – and some more introspective – moments, his band carries us into a resolutely contemporary jazz fed by the elders’ most beautiful pages. Giving free range to the improvisations of an inspired sax, a sunny guitar, a wild piano and a very inventive trumpet, Armando explores a wide palette of feelings and emotions. The dialogues are always spontaneous, lively, joyous and deep, all at once. A perfect balance between softness, lyricism and a well-tempered personality. Filled with beautiful harmonies, groove, swing and happy polyrhythms, it’s a gorgeous imaginary landscape we’re led to visit. Prepare your bags, and leave a little space to bring back unforgettable memories.
New album : ‘New Lands’ (Hypnote Records, 12.2023)
Upcoming events