BYRON-PUGLISI-CAPPELLATO TRIO

In this new project drummer and composer Tommaso Cappellato teams up with eclectic piano player Fabrizio Puglisi and multi-instrumentalist Don Byron. After his recent recording debut "Open" with Michael Blake and Giovanni Guidi, Cappellato is again taking on a new musical challenge with a bass-less trio including two of the most interesting performers in the international jazz scene. One of the founders of the collective Bassesfere, for over a decade Puglisi has been very active in the avant-garde scene throughout Europe collaborating with some prominent artists. Don Byron, an artist who needs not any introductions, has been a singular voice in an astounding range of musical contexts, exploring widely divergent traditions while continually striving for what he calls “a sound above genre.”

In questo nuovo progetto Tommaso Cappellato, batterista e compositore, viene affiancato dall'eclettico pianista Fabrizio Puglisi e il pluristrumentista Don Byron. Dopo il suo recente debutto discografico intitolato "Open" con Michael Blake e Giovanni Guidi, Cappellato rilancia una nuova sfida musicale con un "bass-less" trio assieme a due dei musicisti piu' interessanti nella scena internazionale. Uno dei fondatori del collettivo Bassesfere, da piu' di dieci anni Puglisi e' parte integrante della scena piu' libera della musica europea, attento ricercatore di suoni "altri", rappresenta una fonte d'ispirazione per molti musicisti italiani. Don Byron, virtuoso improvvisatore di rara fantasia per oltre due decenni si e' misurato con una sorprendente varieta' di progetti. Clarinettista, sassofonista, compositore, arrangiatore e critico sociale, Byron regala un'impronta personale ad ogni genere musicale con cui si mette alla prova.

LIVE:
April 24 2010 - Il Torrione Jazz Club - Ferrara
May 1 2010 - Ischia Jazz Club - Ischia (NA)
June 17 2010 - Carega Jazz Festival - Verona

ALL ABOUT JAZZ U.S. REVIEW

OPEN
Tommaso Cappellato | Elefante Rosso (2010)

By Bruce Lindsay



Italian drummer and composer Tommaso Cappellato drives a strong and intelligent quartet on Open, his first album as leader, to create a rewarding and eclectic set of tunes that borrow innovatively from hip-hop, free jazz and funk. The album showcases Cappellato's writing talents as well as his percussion skills, while his choice of some exceptional fellow musicians—he formed the quartet in 2008—augurs well for his future as a bandleader.

The album's first track, "Nowhere, Now Here," finds Michael Blake's lyrical soprano sax taking the lead, whereas "Open" sees him demonstrating a harder-edged tone—exciting, insistent and almost aggressive at times. Blake's playing gives the album both an edge and sense of urgency that are central to its overall feel. It's an edge that carries over into "Episode 29"—where it's matched by Joe Rehmer's bass—and into the short and punchy "Scream Away," which opens with slinky drum and bass work before Blake's screeching sax bursts out and literally does what the title says it will.

The album's key track is "The Knight," an exciting and complex tune that gives all of the musicians space to shine. Blake's playing, on tenor is, once again, lyrical and melodic, while Cappellato provides a rhythmic centre as well as playing some inventive drum patterns. It's pianist Giovanni Guidi's turn to provide the attack by way of some emphatic chordal work and some firm yet precise single note patterns.

Across the rest of the album the quartet constantly displays invention and imagination. "Krishnamurti" opens with Guidi's rich piano solo, soon followed by another of Blake's beautifully rough-edged sax parts. Both musicians seem to quote from "The Ugly Duckling"—not exactly a staple for jazz improvisation—before Rehmer takes over with a short but emphatic bass solo. "He Said Then She Said" is credited to Cappellato and Rehmer, and features the two players in duet on a piece which begins in a freeform style before shifting into a hard-nosed and funky groove. "Natural Element" sees Cappellato soloing on piano, and while his playing lacks Guidi's delicacy and flow, it is still a skilled performance.

Cappellato has described Open as his "project." On this evidence it's an extremely successful one that deserves to grow and develop across more recordings, building upon this impressive and enjoyable debut.

Track listing: Nowhere, Now Here; Open; Episode 29; World Traveller; Mysteries of Life; Talk to Me; Scream Away; The Knight; Krishnamurti; He Said Then She Said; Natural Element.

Personnel: Tommaso Cappellato: drums, piano (11); Michael Blake: soprano and tenor saxophone; Giovanni Guidi: piano; Joe Rehmer: bass.

Style: Modern Jazz

ALL ABOUT JAZZ ITALIA

Nuove interviste e recensioni sul sito ALL ABOUT JAZZ ITALIA

RECENSIONE "OPEN" DI VINCENZO ROGGERO
INTERVISTA DI ANGELO LEONARDI
FOTO GALLERY DI ANTONIO BAIANO
QUESTIONARIO DI PROUST DI PAOLO PEVIANI

CONCERT IN MINORCA

On April 2 2010 the Quartet was invited to play in Minorca, Spain. It was the first European date since the birth of this project and it was a very successful event. This concert fell right on my birthday. The name of the festival was Jazzobert, which in Catalan means "Open", just like the title of the album that I'm promoting - now available on Itunes. Some pleasant unexpected coincidences.

The quartet featured - just like the recording - Michael Blake, Giovanni Guidi and Joe Rehmer. We played some material from the album, a couple of Blake's originals and some free improvisation. The audience was warm and receptive. Nobody smoked during the concert and I was told that it was a big  sign of appreciation. Here's a couple of videos from the concert.




Calypso - The Cuckold from Tommaso Cappellato on Vimeo.