Rosario Di Leo, Homotempus: Distant worlds and different genres in the Sicilian pianist and composer’s new album
An enthusiastic and curious musician, Italian pianist and composer Rosario Di Leo has always approached music (and art in general) with a free, inquisitive spirit. Sicily-born and well-traveled, Di Leo is now releasing his new album “Homotempus” on Auand Records. Besides contemporary jazz, this work embraces prog, film and classical music.
«I do prefer not to define it at all – Di Leo says – since a definition is also a limitation. I am a music devourer, I stay away from preconceptions, although I have my preferences, of course. Too many things inspire me, so it might sound confusing. I studied Bach and grew up playing Dream Theater. I graduated in piano and jazz arrangement. I like creativity, and I see no differences. I love rigorous compositions as well as improvisation, fast rhythms as well as ethereal sounds.»
The band features longtime collaborator Riccardo Grosso on double bass, Bernardo Guerra on drums and Korea-born, Sicily-based Sunah Choi on cello. Even if all of them are amazing players – as Di Leo adds – Choi stands out in the project. «She is the real distinguishing feature of this work. I’ve always thought about the cello sound for my music, and she takes it to new, exotic soundscapes. I am always looking for inspiration from Eastern and Middle-Easter sounds, and her contribution was essential in these compositions.»
Released under Auand Records, “Homotempus” will be avabilable on Bandcamp from January 7, 2022. Singles will start being available (biweekly) on all streaming platforms from December 10, 2021.
The 11 tunes in the tracklist belong to different times and places. As Di Leo recalls, some are new, while some others are much older. «There is not a central idea, but there are recurring themes. I write a lot of diverse music. Sometimes I go back to my old material, trying to enhance it, fix it or throw it away. For this album, planets started to align at some point. The right people, the right instruments, and the right timing. I’ve been working on it for three years and I never wanted to rush it. I waited until it sounded like I had it in my head.»
While the cover depicts the leader’s hometown (Centuripe, Sicily), the album title brings two Latin words together (“man” and “time”), and it reveals a philosophical approach to the concept of time: «The obsession for time, and the attempt to control it, have always affected our species. This fascinates me and disturbs me at the same time.»
1. Flower's Life 06:02
2. Aria nuova 06:16
3. Siciltango 04:38
4. L'uomo e il tempo 05:42
5. Far Away 06:42
6. Istantanea 06:46
7. Liens 05:50
8. Strong 03:58
9. Giant Steps 03:48
10. The Dark Side Of Mid-East 05:20
11. Grandioso ad mortem 07:04
Rosario Di Leo - piano, synth, drum machine
Sunah Choi - cello
Riccardo Grosso - double bass
Bernardo Guerra - drums
Recorded at Sonoria Studio (Scordia, CT, Italy) by Vincenzo Cavalli
Mixed by Vincenzo Cavalli and Rosario Di Leo
Mastered by Giuseppe Palmeri
Cover photo by Salvo La Spina
Graphic Design by Giulia Barbanera
