Ines Velasco - A Flash of Cobalt Blue

Inspired by a moment of artistic revelation over a decade ago, this album is the culmination of composer and pianist Inés Velasco's long-held vision. The journey began when Velasco attended a live reading of Descripción de un brillo azul cobalto (Description of a Flash of Cobalt Blue) by renowned Mexican writer Jorge Esquinca. The poetry struck a deep chord, sparking the desire to one day create a musical project around it.Esquinca, a family friend, became a collaborator and mentor, guiding Velasco through the intricate rhythm, construction, and symbolism of his work. In 2014, their conversations turned to the idea of a project, and he granted her full permission to interpret and incorporate his writing however she saw fit.The music took shape over years of evolution-starting, stopping, and shifting instrumentation-until, in 2023, Velasco was ready to bring the vision to life. Wanting Esquinca's presence to be an integral part of the album, she invited him to record his reading of the entire book in a Guadalajara studio. His spoken word narration became the unifying thread, seamlessly interwoven with the compositions.