There’s a good side in the present day global dimension and that’s called “cultural syncretism”. Roots Magic is an Italian band who’s gradually building up a repertoire between Deep Blues and Creative Jazz, and this is their second effort. As in their previous release, the track list consists of personal renditions of Delta Blues classics (mostly Charlie Patton) played with an overtly exploratory attitude derived from the Free Jazz tradition, as well as a number of pieces composed by some chosen Jazz artists such as Roscoe Mitchell, Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Hamiet Bluiett, including a couple of unearthed gems, “November Cotton Flower” by the great late Marion Brown and “Last Kind Words”, a moving pre-war song by the obscure and legendary Geshie Wiley.
This is some kind of familiar and bizarre sound creation, rooted in the essence of African-American music in its most Folkish character. Perhaps, only Non-American musicians could get the right distance to imagine something like this. Some sort of synthesized Black-influenced music based on sharp horn charts and a variety of Backbeats from Funk to Dub mutations. A whole sound world coming from the utmost respect for the originals, mixed up with good humor and subversive attitude. Needless to add that Black Music is at the very origin of every urban musical expression of today and this band shows us how and why…
01. Down the Dirt Road Blues 4:23
02. Last Kind Words 6:29
03. Tom Rushen Blues 5:10
04. Oh Hush 3:05
05. Old 4:47
06. November Cotton Flower 7:40
07. Dogon A.D. 5:48
08. Hatti Wall 3:05
09. Miss Boweavil 3:47
10. Pee Wee Blues 6:35
11. Poor Me (Again) 7:01
12. Bermuda Blues (Quasi Dub) 4:40
Alberto Popolla clarinet & bass clarinet
Errico De Fabritiis alto & baritone sax
Gianfranco Tedeschi double bass
Fabrizio Spera drums
GUESTS
Luca Venitucci organ on tracks 1, 4, 9 piano on 6
Luca Tilli cello on tracks 3, 7
Antonio Castiello dub effects on 12
Tracks 4 & 9 inspired by C. Patton’s Oh Death and Mississippi Boweavil Blues
Recorded by Daniele Zazza – Abbey Rocchi Studio, Roma, December 2016 | Mixed and mastered by Antonio Castiello with assistance by Aldo De Sanctis – Jambona Lab, Cascina, January, February 2017
Produced by Roots Magic | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos | Photos by Peter Gannushkin / DOWNTOWNMUSIC.NET
Available on Amazon
