Harry Christelis & Pedro Velasco - Scribbling (March 25, 2022)

Harry and Pedro formed a guitar duo that explores and challenges the boundaries of improvised music. Theirs is a melting pot of jazz and folk harmony, immersive sonic textures, and calm, introspective moments that are interjected with wild intensity. In a world that rushes to excite and distract, their music focuses on taking time to develop and create space. This often-understated approach puts just as much emphasis on the notes that are not played, as the ones that are.

The partnership was born in 2016, when the two London-based guitarists came together for a concert and discovered a like-minded approach to music. Their musical connection has developed with each meeting since. They share a respect of jazz traditions but also a love of expanding these to incorporate elements from folk and electronic music, as well as ambient styles and free improvisation. Together, they’ve built a unique, intimate setup and found a way of conversing that’s equally unassuming and thought-provoking.

They recorded their first album, Scribbling, in December 2020. The result is a truly distinct album that challenges the ideas of what a guitar duo should sound like. Some tracks might transport you to a sound world that feels like it belongs in outer space, others as if you’re immersed in the depths of the ocean. It is, however, a beautifully balanced piece of work that keeps its feet firmly rooted in traditions of the instruments and the music they are playing.

1. Paul's Closet

2. Time

3. Charlie’s Dreamtime

4. Scribbling

5. Gin

6. Wool

7. Nos Entretantos do Silêncio

8. Wild Coast

9. Flash

10. Valsa Destes Tempos

11. LD13

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 composed by Pedro Velasco

Tracks 5, 8 and 11 composed by Harry Christelis

Tracks 4, 6 and 9 composed by Harry Christelis and Pedro Velasco

Recorded and mixed by David Holmes

At Soup Studio, London, December 2020

Mastered by Alex Bonney

Produced by Harry Christelis and Pedro Velasco

Executive producer Martin Hummel

Album design by Pedro Velasco

Artwork by Carlos Velasco

Photograph by Nell Greco

CD & Vinyl produced at eco friendly Deepgrooves.eu

PRE-ORDER

Pedro Velasco: Pedro Velasco Trio - EP (2018)

Pedro Velasco has been composing music for as long as he’s been playing guitar. Small ideas, jotted down on scrap pieces of paper, sometimes turned into big ideas written across large scores. Yet it wasn’t until recently, when he began having ‘casual plays’ with two exceptional musicians, Greg Gottlieb (bass) and Gaspar Sena (drums), that the essence of these ideas, and his music, begun to take their true shape. 

Velasco writes for the sake of expression, meaning, and relating – especially to his musical kin – with the hope audiences also enjoy his music for those qualities. He writes to be honest, true and real. 

His music dodges definition. Rather than trying to fit into categories that define jazz, you could describe it as music that cares for silence and space; harmonically simple but directly expressive; loaded with interaction and trust. It’s dreamy, filmic, minimalistic, and it asks for plenty of role-blurring. Everyone’s taking care of time, taking care of harmony, taking care of melody, taking care of improvising. And, as a musician, it means the constructs that define one’s role can fade away, so you can simply play. 

It’s music for music lovers, people who enjoy seeing the care that goes into composing and performing, and who connect with originality.

Pedro Velasco - Guitar and Composition

Gaspar Sena - Drums

Greg Gottlieb - Double Bass

1. Valsa Destes Tempos 07:28

2. Filominor 06:36

3. Canção do Vidoeiro 07:13

Recorded live at Clonmell Studios by Freeze Productions 

Mixed and mastered by Freeze Productions 

All music by Pedro Velasco