GIUSEPPE PUCCIARELI - Take Five No: 90

Can you tell us about your new album?
I believe that my new album, like pretty much anything I’ve written before, shows my love for melodies. I like tunes that could potentially be memorable to any type of audience, not particularly jazz fans only.
(They’re backed up with nice and intrigate chords- and sometimes with odd times signature- in case contemporary jazz nerds are wondering).
So this new album is all about being true to myself as an artist. I’ve never wanted to show off with my composition or playing: my rules is that I need to like it.
And I don’t like shredding or too complicated music with difficult melodies and super odd time signatures. My music wants to be accessible, singable, memorable. So, I don’t even call it jazz, I just call it music. Although the fact that it’s instrumental music, that we do improvise our solos, that it features some advance harmony, perhaps classifies it as ‘contemporary jazz’.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
This is pretty much what I’ve been doing since the start of the pandemic. Just working on my project makes me happy.
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I always go back listening to my idols: Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Lucio Dalla, Ennio Morricone, Led Zeppelin, John Scofield/Steve Swalow, to name but a few. Also listening to anything older such Eastern Rebellion to newer stuff like Ben Wendel’s High Heart, and genius guitarists such as Ralph Towner, Bill Frisell, Rosenwinkel, Bernstein, Lage, Dave Allen, there’s so many.
The last CD I’ve bought is probably Jim Mullen/Tommy Remon last record called ‘Duality’ on Lunaria Records.
I believe that my new album, like pretty much anything I’ve written before, shows my love for melodies. I like tunes that could potentially be memorable to any type of audience, not particularly jazz fans only.
(They’re backed up with nice and intrigate chords- and sometimes with odd times signature- in case contemporary jazz nerds are wondering).
So this new album is all about being true to myself as an artist. I’ve never wanted to show off with my composition or playing: my rules is that I need to like it.
And I don’t like shredding or too complicated music with difficult melodies and super odd time signatures. My music wants to be accessible, singable, memorable. So, I don’t even call it jazz, I just call it music. Although the fact that it’s instrumental music, that we do improvise our solos, that it features some advance harmony, perhaps classifies it as ‘contemporary jazz’.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
This is pretty much what I’ve been doing since the start of the pandemic. Just working on my project makes me happy.
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I always go back listening to my idols: Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Lucio Dalla, Ennio Morricone, Led Zeppelin, John Scofield/Steve Swalow, to name but a few. Also listening to anything older such Eastern Rebellion to newer stuff like Ben Wendel’s High Heart, and genius guitarists such as Ralph Towner, Bill Frisell, Rosenwinkel, Bernstein, Lage, Dave Allen, there’s so many.
The last CD I’ve bought is probably Jim Mullen/Tommy Remon last record called ‘Duality’ on Lunaria Records.

What is your all time favourite album and why?
80/81 by Pat Metheny (with Mike Brecker, De Johnette, Charlie Haden, D. Redman). Simply because I feel pure joy when listening to it. The playing on that one is amazing and features one of the best tenor solos of all times: Brecker on ‘Every Day I thank You’.
But it could also be ‘The Way Up’ by the Pat Metheny Group. Just Incredible.
Who has caught you attention recently that we should be listening out for?
There’s a great band in London led by drummer Jack Yardley called KenHoon. They’re great and just realised a couple of videos you might want to check out! The band has an identity.
Click on the album cover to read our review
Album launch at PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho, London
80/81 by Pat Metheny (with Mike Brecker, De Johnette, Charlie Haden, D. Redman). Simply because I feel pure joy when listening to it. The playing on that one is amazing and features one of the best tenor solos of all times: Brecker on ‘Every Day I thank You’.
But it could also be ‘The Way Up’ by the Pat Metheny Group. Just Incredible.
Who has caught you attention recently that we should be listening out for?
There’s a great band in London led by drummer Jack Yardley called KenHoon. They’re great and just realised a couple of videos you might want to check out! The band has an identity.
Click on the album cover to read our review
Album launch at PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho, London