FRANCO MICALIZZI FEATURING FABRIZIO BOSSO, JIMMY HASLIP, JEFF LORBER, ERIC MARIENTHAL - ORDANUOVA
A
totally great project from the legendary Franco Micalizzi – Italian soundtrack
maestro of the 70s, working here in a warm fusion style with plenty of soul!
The album makes use of all Micalizzi's talent for composition and arrangement –
but the format is quite different than some of his crime/cop work of years back
– more in the soulful fusion style of that period, which turns out to be a
great showcase for the excellent lineup on the record – which includes Fabrizio
Bosso on trumpet, Jeff Lorber on keyboards, and Eric Marienthal on alto and
tenor sax. Micalizzi himself plays acoustic piano on the record – and although
there's vocals on a few tracks, most of the focus is on the instrumental solos.
Titles include "Waxing Moon", "Guarda Me",
"Ondanuova", "Bubble Blues", "Magico", "Slow
Emotion", "Nunca A Certeza", and "Agua Do Mar". ~
Dusty Groove
BALLISTER: DAVE REMPIS, FRED LONBERG-HOLM, PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE – WORSE FOR THE WEAR
The
Ballister trio is hardly worse for the wear this time around – and instead, the
group seem to have a new sort of fire, and one that has them sounding even
bolder than ever! Dave Rempis is searing on alto, tenor, and baritone sax –
playing at times with a style that makes us wonder if he's ever coming up for
air – while Paal Nilssen-Love demonstrates once again that he's one of the true
powerhouses in free jazz drumming, with an incredible command on the kit
throughout! Fred Lonberg Holm plays both cello and electronics, both used in
ways that shade in the music with some crucial colors that make the whole thing
way more than just a bombastic expression of freedom – and the album's three
long tracks are titled "Fornax", "Scutum", and
"Vulpecula". ~ Dusty Groove
STEPHEN RILEY – BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS
That's a heck of a tall horn on the cover – and the album's
got some mighty tall tones from tenorist Stephen Riley too – blowing here in a
set of standards handled with a wonderfully relaxed approach! Riley's got a bit
of a rasp in his tone – maybe Stan Getz by way of Ben Webster – and he's very
much at home with these familiar tunes, and able to make them all his own with
these great little inflections, and a personal, poetic statement on his solos.
The rhythm trio has just the right sort of vibe to match the leader's desire –
quietly swinging at some points, very spare at others – with Peter Zak on
piano, Neal Caine on bass, and Jason Marsalis on drums – on titles that include
"Baubles Bangles & Beads", "Hellhound On My Trail",
"Who", "I Thought About You", "I've Told Every Little
Star", "Bewitched", and "Wait Till You See Her". ~ Dusty Groove
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