I GIGANTI DELLA MONTAGNA - Oi Dialogoi
Slam Records (SLAMCD 555)
The trio, I Giganti della Montagna (The Giants of the Mountain) - Ferdinando d’Urso, alto and baritone saxophones; Lorenzo Paesani, piano and Federico Sconosciuto, cello; with Stefano Maltese, saxello, flute, bass clarinet.
Recorded October 2013
The album L'Arsenale delle Apparizioni, reviewed here in January 2014 was so good that I thought a second would quickly follow. The recording did, its release took somewhat longer, but here it is at last. Stefano Maltese is the multi-instrumentalist guest, already known for his own-name works and for his efforts with Evan Parker and others.
There are both composed, written contributions here, as well as protracted, freely improvised pieces, and all contribute to the apparent desire to reproduce a music which is neither or is both jazz and contemporary classical. It also seems essentially European, due in part to the influence of Sicilian folk music, again, a natural consequence of the trio’s origins.
The classical aspect is I’m sure deliberate and the chamber-like structure of the quartet inevitably supports that mode. Classical talking to free improv? – That’s a dialogue. Sometimes a number starts out with a free sound, but morphs into a clearly composed piece, while at other moments various combinations of wind instruments deliver a robust and vigorous discourse, yet remaining entirely natural. Even when speaking independently there is never a suggestion of a solo break.
Great jazz-classical with wonderful improv – I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
Slam Records (SLAMCD 555)
The trio, I Giganti della Montagna (The Giants of the Mountain) - Ferdinando d’Urso, alto and baritone saxophones; Lorenzo Paesani, piano and Federico Sconosciuto, cello; with Stefano Maltese, saxello, flute, bass clarinet.
Recorded October 2013
The album L'Arsenale delle Apparizioni, reviewed here in January 2014 was so good that I thought a second would quickly follow. The recording did, its release took somewhat longer, but here it is at last. Stefano Maltese is the multi-instrumentalist guest, already known for his own-name works and for his efforts with Evan Parker and others.
There are both composed, written contributions here, as well as protracted, freely improvised pieces, and all contribute to the apparent desire to reproduce a music which is neither or is both jazz and contemporary classical. It also seems essentially European, due in part to the influence of Sicilian folk music, again, a natural consequence of the trio’s origins.
The classical aspect is I’m sure deliberate and the chamber-like structure of the quartet inevitably supports that mode. Classical talking to free improv? – That’s a dialogue. Sometimes a number starts out with a free sound, but morphs into a clearly composed piece, while at other moments various combinations of wind instruments deliver a robust and vigorous discourse, yet remaining entirely natural. Even when speaking independently there is never a suggestion of a solo break.
Great jazz-classical with wonderful improv – I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
