In what can be seen as a blueprint for future jazz acts, reflecting the wonderfully expanding melting pot of today’s America, Dumee & Dijkgraaf Quinteto is stitched together by international passports; with members from the Netherlands, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, their musical inspirations are eclectic, united by a general affection for jazz. According to Dijkgraaf, the idea for the band arose after he met Dumee at a jam session in the Netherlands four years ago. “He played bass that night and did a lot of Brazilian percussion,” Dijkgraaf recalled. “We had such a nice musical click, mainly because it was immediately apparent to me that he approached Brazilian music in a much more free way then what I was used to in Brazil. His approach was that of free jazz but applied with a lot of knowledge and respect to the standard Brazilian repertoire. We started talking and became good friends instantly. Following was a period of four years of playing with lots of musicians mainly in the Netherlands when I was there. It was his unexpected trip to Brazil in December 2010 that made us decide to record an album with our ‘dream team’ in Brazil.”

‘Dream team’ is certainly an apt description for Dumee & Dijkgraaf Quinteto. There is a transcendent quality to the group’s music, one that becomes increasingly apparent with each spin of “Heloisando.”

Featuring guitarist Jan Dumee, harmonicist Wim Dijkgraaf, pianist Kiko Continentino, bassist Paulo Russo, and drummer Marcio Bahia, Dumee & Dijkgraaf Quinteto create music that is the result of an international exchange of flavors and inspirations based on the members’ backgrounds in Europe, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. They add up to an exotic and particularly invigorating collective, offering a consistently inventive and dazzlingly energetic performance.

On “Entre Rio e Belo Horizonte,” Dijkgraaf’s harmonica is especially commanding, almost breathless in its relentless energy as Continentino’s rollicking piano, Dumee’s jamming guitars, and Bahia’s frenzied drumming build up a wall of steam.

It’s exhilarating to see tightly-knit musicians lock on such an infectious groove. Dumee & Dijkgraaf Quinteto is a true band, one whose individual components result in a powerhouse unit with no weaknesses.

Nevertheless, there are solo moments that shine as well. On “Sonhando De Amor,” Continentino’s lovely piano conjures an atmosphere of glorious tranquility. It’s almost as if Continentino – and the group itself, actually – is trying to capture the therapeutic calmness of nature. Dumee’s spiraling riffs on “Cipriano” is equally spellbinding.

Surprisingly, there are no traditional Brazilian songs or covers to be found on Heloisando. Each track was written by Dumee, making for a unique experience. The band’s sound is inherently unique due to Dijkgraaf’s expert harmonica work. The instrument boasts few true virtuosos and a reputation for more blues-based inclusion. In the process of imparting his personality into his playing, Dijkgraaf shows just how engaging, emotional, and diverse the harmonica can be. He’s allowed to run rampant over Dumee’s compositions, sometimes matching Dumee’s vocals with equally sensitive tones as on the opener “Heloisa,” and other times creating breathless, note mongering solos as heard in “Entre Rio e Belo Horizonte.” Dumee’s guitar playing resides in a similar realm, and the two complement each other beautifully. Though the music is primarily instrumental, there’s no shortage of feeling. The first time Continentino is turned loose for a piano solo, the listener is held captive by his ideas. With Dumee succinctly strumming in the background and Bahia providing a cloyingly complex rhythm, the track takes on a resounding vibe of tranquility. Dumee’s plaintive yet pleading vocal weaves around the music like a gentle breeze, but it’s not all calmness and serenity. The end of the song finds the band playing around with each other to create a neat improvised coda.

Every track includes memorable musical moments from each band member, but some stand out as touchstones. Dumee’s exceptional acoustic guitar flair on “Entre Rio e Belo Horizonte” gives the song some streetwise grit. Dijkgraaf’s lightly effected harmonica strains on “Sonhando de Amor” evoke the mystical sound of the flute. “Sonhando de Amor” also displays the band’s ability to blend styles. The drums and bass craft a timeless-sounding jazz beat while Dumee glides above with slippery acoustic guitar lines. Each solo seems more lyrical than the next, and the sheer amount of musicality in action is astonishing. The lighthearted “Rodinha” provides Dijkgraaf with a swaying backdrop that brings bossa nova to mind, and he makes the most of it with typically inventive playing.

Even without the one-of-a-kind sound that the harmonica affords, this album would be a success. When Dijkgraaf drops out, the remaining foursome creates plenty of heat on their own. Dumee surfs upon the sultry swing with clean, clear tones while the unflappable Russo urges him along on bass. “Cipriano” is a folky tour-de-force, the beginning of which consists of Dumee and Dijkgraaf riffing on a slightly Mediterranean melody. Dumee’s wordless vocals invoke a spiritual side, and the rest of the band enters with unmatched grace. The nine tracks that comprise Heloisando are nearly unmatched in combining entertaining instrumental work and carefree atmospheres. There’s no doubt that all of the musicians on the album have the ability to set listener’s brains ablaze with rapid-fire playing, but their restraint proves endlessly fruitful.

Review by Bryan Rodgers