Invisible Cities - Part One

After nearly three decades of musical dialogue, Sérgio Reze and André Mehmari present Invisible Cities: Part 1 — an album that transcends conventional recording. Released by the ADS label and produced by Gustavo Cândido, it celebrates creative freedom and artistic depth as a pioneering venture into immersive Dolby Atmos audio.

The genesis of Invisible Cities is remarkable: without rehearsals or pre-established arrangements, the entire album was captured in a single, uninterrupted session with no overdubs or edits — a philosophical choice rooted in decades of mutual trust. As Reze describes, "by pressing the record button without any prior rehearsal, we were launched together through a portal that reveals Invisible Cities, where creative potential expands in proportion to our ability to imagine and to look at the other with affection."

The repertoire unfolds as vivid sonic landscapes — improvisations flowing freely between the musicians, interwoven with three themes composed by Mehmari: "Canto Primeiro," "Carta a um Jovem Poeta," and "Valsa Gris." Anchored by piano and analog bass synthesizer, the textural palette transports listeners to uncharted territories. Mehmari reflects: "In each of these 'Cities,' we imagine and create, without rehearsals, a musical microcosm — an act of pure faith in the moment and in the other person."

Their partnership is a cornerstone of Brazilian instrumental music. Reze, described as a "rare drummer who approaches his kit in an orchestral way," treats his instrument as a melodic voice. Mehmari, a virtuoso pianist and sonic explorer, pushes harmonic conventions, creating dialogues both technical and emotional. "I cannot recall a single musical encounter where there wasn't freshness, mutual interest, and intense, stimulating sonic dialogues," Reze reflects.

Recorded by Gustavo Cândido in discrete immersive format using high-end equipment — Merging Technologies Hapi Mk II converters, Schoeps and DPA microphones, Reaper and Pyramix workstations — the production places the listener inside the music.

This is more than an album — it is an invitation to experience music as pure presence. Every spontaneous note, every dialogue between piano and drums, unfolds in three-dimensional space, revealing nuances only possible through Dolby Atmos. Invisible Cities: Part 1 is not just heard — it is inhabited. A testament to friendship, trust, and the endless possibilities when two masters create without a net. Enter this world. Listen beyond the sound.