The Magic of Composition. For ten years double-bass player Carlos Bica’s trio Azul has fascinated its listeners. Living in Berlin, Portuguese Bica, again and again, creates music that seems familiar yet excitingly transformed at the same time. On their ten-year anniversary the trio on Believer once more conjures their delicate balance between twinkle-toed poetry and slightly off-the-wall humor… Oftentimes the listener is not even aware of the magic of the composition until the music has faded. However, there is always a touch of irony breaking the magic, as well as some cool stings delivered by the featured artist DJ Illvibe. The sound of the recording matches the music: it is as much poetical as it is refreshingly natural.
– Stereoplay, Klangtipp

Pure serenity and foresight. There is no need for anything else. In times of a global fun society and arbitrariness (even in Jazz) it is good to still have islands like the music of Carlos Bica and Azul.
– Jazz Podium

Melodic landscapes that could have come from Radiohead or Tortoise.
– Berliner Tagesspiegel

Believer, the new album of the remarkable trio Azul, shines neon blue and in a jazzy-melancholic way with ingenious spaces, telling about the other side of the wind. These are songs without words, relaxed soundscapes, whose mediterranean grooves are easily able to hold the balance between dramatic and playful art… Music for eternity.
– CD of the week, Der Schallplattenman

The magic of shaping.
– Fono Forum, 5 stars

The Portuguese Carlos Bica is not only a brilliant double-bass player, he also represents a highly individual band concept…
– Stereo, 5 Stars

As a guest on the turntables, DJ Illvibe discretely maintains the secret of the album’s poetry.
– Rolling Stone, 4 stars

Azul celebrate their ten-year anniversary with their excellent album Believer. It is the kind of jazz that cannot be completed, that searches and researches. It is therefore also much more precious – since it passes hills and valleys, oceans and tides without settling down – jazz without limits.
– Correio da Manhã