After nearly 30 years of collaboration, Sérgio Reze and André Mehmari release Invisible Cities: Part 1, an album that celebrates their friendship and musical partnership with creative freedom and artistic depth. Recorded in a single day, without rehearsals or edits, the album is a testament to spontaneity and the unique connection between the two musicians.

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 — or the other side — with affection.”

Invisible Cities is a bold exploration of music as a space of affection and imagination. The improvisations, recorded completely freely, reveal intense and refreshing dialogues, while the themes composed by André Mehmari — Canto Primeiro, Carta a um Jovem Poeta, and Valsa Gris — add layers of structure and depth to the work. The use of instruments such as the piano and analog bass synthesizer creates rich and varied textures, transporting the listener to unexpected sonic landscapes. Mehmari adds: “In each of these ‘Cities,’ we imagine and create, without rehearsals, a musical microcosm.”

The partnership between Sérgio Reze and André Mehmari is one of the pillars of contemporary Brazilian instrumental music. Reze, described by Mehmari as a “rare drummer, who approaches his kit in an orchestral way, with a broad palette of colors,” brings a unique approach to his instrument. Meanwhile, Mehmari, in addition to being a virtuoso pianist, explores timbres and harmonies that challenge conventions, creating a dialogue that is both technical and emotional. Together, they build an album that celebrates not only their journey but also the ability of music to transcend boundaries. As Reze reflects: “I cannot recall a single musical encounter where there wasn’t a sense of freshness, mutual interest, and intense, stimulating sonic dialogues.”

The project was recorded and produced by Gustavo Cândido of ADS, whose expertise allowed the magic of these performances to be captured with the utmost fidelity, transporting the listener to the heart of each performance. The recording was done in discrete immersive format, using high-end equipment such as Merging Technologies Hapi Mk II Analog to Digital Converters, Schoeps and DPA microphones, as well as Reaper and Pyramix workstations in Ravenna AoIP, with immersive monitoring using Dynaudio Contour and Emit 20 speakers.

Invisible Cities is more than an album — it is an artistic statement that reaffirms the power of collaboration and the beauty of improvisation. Prepare to embark on this unique journey, where music flows without barriers, and every note is a discovery in an immersive, high-definition sonic experience.

André Mehmari, Piano & Bass Synthesizer
Sérgio Reze, Drums & Gongs