Record Reviews

IVO PERELMAN / SIRIUS QUARTET ~ THE PASSION ACCORDING TO G. H. LEO 642 (Barcode: 5024792064229) ~ BRAZIL ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is an album by Brazilian saxophonist / composer Ivo PerelmanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific figures on the contemporary Improvised Music scene, recorded with the multi-national Sirius QuartetFind albums by this artist, a unique string quartet, which is also involved in the Improvising Music milieu. The album presents six tracks, which are parts of one improvised piece, co-credited to Perelman and the members of the quartet. If anyone expects to find here the typical “Jazz & Strings” music, nothing could be more distant from the reality. Although the music is performed by a saxophone and a string quartet, but the music is completely improvised, including the string quartet´s contributions, which of course makes it quite unique, since string quartets are usually not associated with improvisation. But alas, the Sirius Quartet is anything but a usual string quartet, as can be clearly heard herein. Perelman is considered as one of the most radical / uncompromising representatives of the Free Jazz / Improvised Music activists, and his vast recording legacy, which spans dozens of albums, is usually quite difficult and uninviting even to the most dedicated Improvising Music listeners. This album, however, is somewhat more accessible, and this is why I decided to write about it, despite the fact that I have many of his recordings in my collection. The album was released on the LeoFind albums on this label Records label, like most of Perelman’s output. The label was founded in 1979 by Leo FeiginFind albums by this artist, a Russian journalist and broadcaster, who emigrated to the UK and worked at the BBC. In its early years Leo Records released many albums by Russian Avant-Garde / Free Jazz artists, but later expanded the catalogue to include international improvisers, including some fifty albums by Perelman. The label ceased to release new material in 2019. Overall, this is a challenging and demanding piece of music, and yet definitely worth visiting for the open-minded and inquisitive listeners, which can definitely expand one’s aesthetic horizons. It might require more than one listening session, but once the depth of the music and the talents of the musicians is in plain sight, this might be quite a journey of discovery.

Updated: 05/05/2026Posted: 05/05/2026

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