Victor Vieira-Branco's Bark Culture - The Giant Is Awkward (2026)

Tracklist

01. Palace
02. Farce
03. Willow
04. Panic
05. Spectrum

The Giant is Awkward is the second album by vibraphonist and composer Victor Vieira-Branco’s Bark Culture. The ensemble—featuring John Moran (double bass) and Joey Sullivan (drums)—is joined by pianist and composer Sam Yulsman for five pieces that mirror the prismatic nature of a sound Vieira-Branco has been tirelessly crafting with the group since 2021. With the addition of Yulsman, the group reveals, as Peter Margasak states, “a heightened sensitivity and grace, with increased harmonic splendor thanks to the added chordal voice. The record also marks the vibraphonist’s clear growth as a composer.”

The band’s 2024 debut, Warm Wisdom, received high praise, with New York Times jazz critic Hank Shteamer listing it among his top debuts of 2024, as well as landing a spot on Bandcamp’s Best of Jazz for September 2024. Since then, Vieira-Branco has joined Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra and the Chad Taylor Quintet, the former of which released the album Smokeshifter, featuring three pieces penned by the vibraphonist. The core trio of Bark Culture was also heavily involved in Rob Mazurek’s score for Kelly Reichardt’s 2025 film The Mastermind.

VV-B: This session was not meant to be the record. Beau Gordon had offered me some last-minute studio time to help him test a new recording rig he had been granted access to at Tidbit Sonos. Everyone’s availability was extremely limited that day, and it felt like it was a million degrees in Philadelphia. My original intention to use these recordings as demos was reinforced upon realizing the piano was slightly out of tune. In my mind, the compositions were still a work in progress as well, yet I was keen on capturing the band’s sound. We cut everything in three hours of playing, with no more than two takes per piece.

Upon listening back to the session, I was totally floored. The playing is so strong and carefree, dynamic and subtle, while feeling incredibly precise and focused. The piano tuning (which had originally been a concern) resulted in a human-like quality in the music that I find incredibly moving. Amid my surprise, I realized that this document was indeed the record. This is what I hear.

A great gift of my lifetime has been my collaboration with John Moran and Joey Sullivan since meeting them both in 2021. While I met Sam Yulsman in 2024, our instant kinship feels magnetic despite our distinct musical paths. I asked Sam to bring his tune Farce to the session which is a highlight of the album for me.