André Mehmari & Sergio Reze - Invisible Cities, Part One

Recorded in a single Sunday session at Estúdio Monteverdi, *Invisible Cities, Part One* captures pianist André Mehmari and drummer Sergio Reze in pure, spontaneous interplay. Sixteen one-take performances—thirteen of them fully improvised—unfold with no edits, overdubs, or rehearsals. Mehmari’s simultaneous command of Steinway D, bass synth, and Minimoog (via a live monitor feed) meets Reze’s nuanced Canopus kit, Bosphorus cymbals, and resonant gongs in a studio alive with natural acoustics.

At the heart of this sonic experience is ADS’s proprietary Discrete Immersive Array, consisting of nine-microphone, five for the surround layer and four for the height layer using DPA and Schoeps capsules, Van den Hul cables, Merging Technologies HAPI MKII converters, and AoIP Ravenna into Reaper. No compression, EQ, or spatial summing, just a crystalline signal path. Additionally, there are no overdubs, edits, or retakes, making this an extremely lively and musical album.

From the start to finish the sound is stellar and perfectly balanced, making it easy to hear why audio engineer Gustavo Cândido calls himself a balance engineer. “Passagem Noturna,” immediately places the listener into the spacious recording room at Estúdio Monteverdi, where the air and acoustics can be heard. One is placed perfectly among the musicians, where the bass synth is initially subtle, but rises brilliantly by the end. Throughout the entire track, the tone of the drums, piano and bass synth are stunning.

The track “Cidades Invisíveis I,” beginns a breathtaking three-part suite. This song is entirely improvised in one take, it’s a marvel of restraint and resonance. Reze’s cymbals shimmer from behind with such resilient presence, while Mehmari’s subtle bass synth hums up front beneath, adding dimension without distraction.

On “A Dark Place,” the immersive soundscape draws the listener into a gentle opening before the duo erupts into a spirited exchange—tension and release, perfectly framed. It's a microcosm of the album's creative energy, a real-time composition shaped by instinct and connection. The soundscape is wide and deep placing the listener among the musicians in a way where elements fully encompass the space. There is amazing depth and fantastic dynamics that only prove direct to digital unedited recordings provide for an enticing listening experience.

As we get to the closing piece, “Pierrot” is a spatial triumph. An exquisite immersive audio journey where placement is everything. Audio engineer Gustavo Cândido achieves the ideal, an enveloping soundstage that feels intimate yet expansive, avoiding the extremes that often disrupt immersion. The result is both technically masterful and emotionally satisfying, a fitting finale to a singular sonic journey.

When the recordings are completed, they are mastered using the Pyramix DAW by Merging Technologies. These extremely precise and transparent tools allow the engineer to create the final high-resolution delivery master files, such as DSD up to 256, DXD, and PCM Hi-Res. The Dolby Atmos ADM master file is generated using the Dolby Atmos Composer software/plugin by Fiedler Audio and converted to MKV for home listening. The result is an immersive audio canvas where each note breathes, each space resonates, and the listener is drawn fully into the music.

While I only reviewd part 1 here, part 2 is also now available and both are highly recommended for fans of modern jazz and improvisational music plus audiophiles seeking transparent immersive recordings.

Released May 14, 2025.

 Get your copy here:

 Share this Article with your Friends

 About the Author

Wesley is a lifelong music enthusiast. He started his career in the recording industry in New York City as an audio engineer, producer, and studio manager. Subsequently he toured across America as a guitarist with the short-lived band Land's Crossing. After many years in the technology sector and amassing a substantial vinyl and CD collection, he delved into immersive audio and created Hi-Res Edition to share with other listeners about the sound quality and discrete mixes available on many formats. He recently upgraded his system to 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos and continues to seek out and share about the best sounding releases.