“I feel it’s a journey with the audience”

You have been a regular presence at Jazz em Agosto, performing with different projects such as Ahmed, The Locals, and X-Ray Hex Tet. In what ways does a solo concert differ from those collaborative experiences, both musically and personally?

Playing solo, in my opinion, is the hardest. When playing in groups, you can navigate and shape the music together: responsibility is shared. When you play solo, everything is on you, and it demands greater concentration.

There often seems to be a dialogue between stability and exploration in your playing. How do you build and maintain that balance when performing live?

Everything, especially solo, depends on the first phrase, which is dependent on the acoustic environment and resonance emanating from the room and the audience.

Some critics have described your music as existing somewhere between prayer and dream. When you improvise, do you consciously seek that space between structure and transcendence, or does it emerge naturally during the performance?

For me, everything starts with intention, to be open and allow the music to unfold and not interfere in this, I feel it’s a journey with the audience, and this helps create music into a more intense consciousness that transcends time and space.

Looking at your relationship with Jazz em Agosto, what makes this edition and this solo performance particularly special for you?

Jazz em Agosto is a remarkable festival, and I feel really honored to play here for the fifth time in a row! To be playing solo in such a great space is very special for me.