Paulo Almeida - Love in Motion

[GA Russell]

Dox Records Presents   Drummer Paulo Almeida  with Love in Motion   Growing up in Brazil means growing up inside rhythm. It is part of daily life, in language, in communal gatherings, in religious ceremonies, and in the way music is learned and shared.    On his 6th recording and full-length studio album, Almeida does not deny that foundation but neither does he rely on it. Instead of placing groove at the centre, he rebalances the roles within the music.   CD AND DIGITAL FORMATS AVAILABLE ON APRIL 24, 2026 VIA DOX RECORDS (AMSTERDAM, NL) HTTPS://RECORDS.DOX.AMSTERDAM | DOX 716CD



Now based in Basel, drummer Paulo Almeida approaches composition as fluidly as he moves between continents and traditions, and Love in Motion makes that process audible. The record emerged from an intensive period at the piano, where he sang through ideas before transferring them to the drum set and his band. Almeida prefers working this way. He uses his voice not as ornament but as a compositional tool, shaping and phrasing a direction before a single drum pattern is set in place.   Singing has accompanied him since childhood, and here that background becomes directly perceptible. It connects naturally to how he approaches the drum set. Rather than treating it as a purely rhythmic engine, Almeida understands it as an instrument of color, contour, and melodic presence. The drums do not simply mark time; they participate in shaping it, responding to breath and phrasing rather than imposing structure.

© Ula Productions

This approach carried into the recording process. The album was made with musicians from Almeida’s close circle in Basel, players who understand his language and include Lorenzo Vitolo, Josh Schofield and Joan Codina with an appearance by the influential and internationally recognized Jorge Rossy. The sessions were guided by listening and collective adjustment rather than fixed arrangements. Roles shift subtly within the band, and the music unfolds through shared awareness rather than hierarchy.   Within this framework, Almeida’s long-standing connection to Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal forms an essential thread. Having studied in environments where Pascoal’s music was central and collaborated with musicians from his circle, Almeida extends that lineage here, preserving the immediacy and spiritual openness that have long shaped Pascoal’s influence on him.   Love in Motion presents Almeida not through a single stylistic label, but through an ongoing exploration of structure, breath, and interaction. It brings together Brazilian roots, a European context, and a clear sense of lineage, offering a focused portrait of an artist refining his language while remaining closely connected to its origins.

Paulo Almeida © Yaroslav Monchak

ALMEIDA ABOUT THE TUNES Burning Skin - I wrote this song during a time when I was dealing with anxiety, and one of the symptoms was a burning sensation on my skin. The melody carries a strong influence from Hermeto Pascoal, a lifelong inspiration for me.   Um Sopro - This song came from reflecting on how life is like a breath - “sopro” in Portuguese. The music was inspired by Malcolm Braff conceptions, a composer I’ve also had the pleasure of playing with.   Lembranças do Boi - This song was inspired by the Brazilian cultural movement Boi do Maranhão, and by impressionism, where rhythm and melody sometimes change roles.   Nenhum Talvez (Hermeto Pascoal) - This song was first recorded by Miles Davis after his profound encounter with Hermeto Pascoal. As Hermeto’s music has deeply influenced me, I recorded it in his honor and invited the wonderful Swiss singer Lisette Spinnler to join me.   Winter Morning - One winter morning during the album’s composition period, this melody came to me all at once. I sent it to Lorenzo Vitolo to hear his harmonic vision for it, and that’s how our first partnership began.   Resilience - This piece was written during a time of reflection about the seasons in Europe. Coming from Brazil, winter was something new for me and required resilience. I also compared this idea to Les Nymphéas by Claude Monet - thinking that, like those paintings, a piece of music can reveal a different light each time it’s played.   Saudade - “Saudade” is one of the most beautiful words in Brazilian Portuguese, and it’s hard to translate exactly. I wrote this song in a reflective moment, feeling homesick for my hometown, my friends, and my family.   Ipê - Ipê is the indigenous name of a Brazilian tree and one of the oldest compositions on this album. For this piece, I invited the great master and friend Jorge Rossy to join us.   Saci - Saci is a legendary figure in Brazilian culture - a one-legged trickster who jumps around the forest, protecting it. This song tries to capture that spirit. In the second part, I drew a lot of inspiration from Paul Motian.   https://www.pauloalmeidadrummer.com

TRACKS  1. Burning Skin 4.37 2. Um Sopro 6.46 3. Lembranças do Boi 5.23 4. Nenhum Talvez 5.50 5. Winter Morning 5.15 6. Resilience 4.19 7. Saudade 2.12 8. Ipê 5.52 9. Saci 5.12   All compositions by Paulo Almeida, except „Nenhum Talvez“ from Hermeto Pascoal and „Winter Morning“ in partnership with Lorenzo Vitolo. Produced by Paulo Almeida. Recorded by Guillem Salles at Jazz Campus in Basel in April 2025. Mixed and mastered by Thiago Monteiro.

ABOUT PAULO ALMEIDA Paulo Almeida is a Brazilian drummer, percussionist and composer based in Basel. Over the past decade he has established himself as a distinctive voice within Brazil’s instrumental music scene, combining Afro Brazilian rhythmic foundations with a highly melodic approach to the drum set. He began his musical studies in the state of São Paulo and later continued his education at the Conservatory of Tatuí, where he studied both classical and popular music and participated in numerous festivals.    As an instrumentalist, Almeida has performed at major festivals and jazz clubs worldwide and collaborated with artists including Hermeto Pascoal, Dhafer Youssef, Guillermo Klein, Lionel Loueke, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Jorge Rossy, Anat Cohen, Ralph Alessi, Filó Machado and Leny Andrade. Alongside his work as a bandleader, he teaches at the Jazzcampus Basel and remains active in a wide range of projects across Europe. His discography as a leader includes Constatações (2013), Corpo e Alma (2017), Parceria (2017), Unity - Live at Bird’s Eye Jazz Club (2020), and Oferenda (2023).

Paulo Almeida © Yaroslav Monchak