“PHISQA: a solid fusion of jazz and Peruvian rhythms” – Diario Jaén
“A superior project: six stars” – Ideal (Granada)
“Phisqa: a very solid fusión between jazz and Peruvian rhythms.” – Cultura Jaen
“This is the next step in the fusion of Peruvian rhythms and jazz...” – Oscar Stangaro
“At their head, Calmet is a young musician at the beginning of what promises to be an interesting journey.” – The Irish Times
“... a young group full of promise.” – All About Jazz
“Super...” – Jazz FM
“Peruvian jazz catches your ear by combining thriving rhythms from the Andes with the splendid musicianship of some of the finest European jazz musicians.” – Jazz Am Sunntig
“A trip” is how its creator, Cote Calmet, defines this project. ‘Phisqa’ (‘five’ in Quechua, the native language of Peru) is a word chosen to inspire our five senses as human beings. PHISQA is also the staging of a new way of merging the rich texture of Afro-Peruvian, Andean and Amazonian rhythms with the elegance, spontaneity, freedom and virtuosity of the jazz language.
Pachamama, meaning Mother Earth in Quechua (the native language used by the Incas in Peru), is a tribute to the one, huge, living organism floating in space which gives life to every single one of us. A tribute to the perfect timing in life that puts everything together at the right moment, in the right place, so that all of us can be walking, breathing, laughing, creating, experimenting, listening. Every composition on the album relates to the Pachamama and its inhabitants. It could be a Guacamayo (macaw) taking flight, a Shipiba (healer from the Amazon jungle) like Elisa Vargas chanting, a poet like Nicomedes studying, or anything or anybody that is trying to make the world a more beautiful place.
Formed in the city of Dublin (Ireland) in 2010, PHISQA escapes the traditional way in which Peruvian rhythms have been fused with jazz. Calmet – composer, conductor and drummer of the group – explains: “First of all I tried to approach Peruvian music, trying to use another method of playing it with jazz. I used a lot of the concepts of opening the solos of the themes, as well as having more architectural structures. I have also avoided having a cajón or other type of native percussion next to the drums, so I passed all those rhythms to my instrument. PHISQA explores the wealth of Afro-Peruvian, Andean and Amazonian music but with jazz instruments: soprano and tenor sax, trumpet, guitar, drums and double bass. That way we can move from a totally Peruvian rhythm to the newest in contemporary jazz and fusion.”
01 – GUACAMAYOS
02 – CHAQCHA
03 – COLIBRI
04 – LIMA LA GRIS
05 – LULLABY FOR NICOMEDES
06 – SUSPENSION
07 – MOCHE
08 – SHIPIBA
09 – FOLI
10 – MANU
PHISQA
Carlos Ligero tenor saxophone
Miguel de Gemma soprano saxophone
Albetro Martín trumpet & flugelhorn
Mario Alonso electric guitar
Alejandro Tamayo double & electric bass
Cote Calmet drums, percussion, composition & arrangement
