Giulio Gentile - Insight (January 2022 Auand Records)

Now an established name in and outside his country, multi-awarded Italian pianist Giulio Gentile has recently focused on exploring the possibilities offered by the trio, along with longtime collaborators Pietro Pancella on bass and double bass, and Michele Santoleri on drums.

«They have been essential – Gentile says –, both musically and as human beings, to complete this work. They have always believed in my music, adding the right energy to the project. We’re good friends. At first, we simply met to play something together, and then we developed a repertoire focused on my compositions and arrangements, which led to this trio. Playing with them makes me feel the trio as one person. There’s a lot of interplay and listening, which I love!»

Trying to avoid specific shapes, this album is a work on identity: «The key to this project – Giulio Gentile adds – is about us finding our musical identity. I didn’t limit myself too much when writing these tunes because I believe in composition as freedom. I didn’t wonder if it was “jazz enough” or anything, I simply put down things on paper: ideas that could mirror something about me, trying to find an original sound and leveraging everyone’s strengths.»

Although difficult structures and polyrhythms abound, “Insight” is centered on melody, both in themes and improvisation. And it gets personal. «After writing some of these tunes I realised I put a lot of myself in them: ideas, thoughts, wishes, fears. This is why I picked this title: it’s me trying to communicate my vision through my music. I imagined “Mankind to Earth” as a dialogue between humanity and Planet Earth. Mankind begs for mercy, trying to be forgiven for everything has been (and is being) done to Earth. And there is a response, in “Earth to Mankind”, which I made more chaotic and rough, insisting on one melody that repeats from beginning to end. This sense of chaos and mess made me think of the inner, stronger and destructive face of nature, which I tried to convey using a 9/8 clave rhythm.» 

1. Hope 07:26

2. Cremisi 05:31

3. Throw The Stone 08:26

4. Mankind To Earth 08:53

5. Earth To Mankind 02:41

6. Libero 09:18

7. L'Aventino 06:36

8. Fight Or Flight 09:48

9. Fortress Of Solitude 07:19

10. The End 03:09

Giulio Gentile - piano

Pietro Pancella - double bass, electric bass

Michele Santoleri - drums

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Domenico Pulsinelli and Claudio Esposito at Bess Recording Studio, Montesilvano (Italy) on September 2020

Produced by Giulio Gentile

executive producer: Marco Valente

cover photo by Diego Costantini

inner and back cover photos by Giacomo Alberico

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Dario Piccioni - Carpet Stories (February 2021 Auand Records)

Auand releases Dario Piccioni’s “Carpet Stories”

The Italian double bass player leads a trio featuring Vittorio Solimene on piano and Michele Santoleri on drums, plus Veronica Marini’s guest vocals

A piano trio focused on double bass. Upside down structures. Mediterranean flavours. Italian double bass player Dario Piccioni’s new trio album “Carpet Stories” is the first he records on Auand label. Even if the band (with Vittorio Solimene on piano, and Michele Santoleri on drums) might look like the usual piano trio, Piccioni mixes things up by giving his instrument the leading role: «I like to contaminate jazz with specific elements recently: importance of double bass, rhythmic research, structure overturning, aggressive percussion. And also unisons, progressive hints, Mediterranean sounds, fusion. Everything is put in a dreamy frame, and enriched with interplay and improvisation.»

These choices shape the entire narrative of his “Carpet Stories”, rooted in his childhood memories. He used to play on his grandparents’ carpet «and I remember the feeling: it was like watching a movie, or playing a video game. But nothing was moving: it was only a motif, possibly a chivalric illustration with some decorations. It was like a Stendhal syndrome that lasted quite long. In the end, everyday objects like a carpet also had that purpose: transmitting stories, like movies do today. But I had an active role in that moment: I was able to create multiple stories, using and mixing the recurring elements.»

Two trusted musicians fully support him: Vittorio Solimene has been on stage with Piccioni since the pianist was18 years old. They also toured Europe, influencing each other. «He is highly contributing to the sound of this project – the leader adds – As for Michele Santoleri, we have a deep spiritual connection. We both keep ourselves away from purism. I feel free to experiment when I play with him.»

The trio also features a special appearance by singer Veronica Marini – her lively and dreamy vocals on “A New Ceiba” and on title track “Carpet Stories” strengthen the melodic and emotional message.

Piccioni’s writing method is now solid. «It’s like following the same path – he says – stepping in the same footprints we left in the past. Only, the path is never the same. Our look on the landscape has changed, as well as our footprints. Everything flows. The artist grows up by listening to himself and the others. And he finds deeper meanings even when analysing the same structure or form for years.»

1. Kinsoma 04:25

2. Tower Of Silence 04:13

3. Migala 02:56

4. Dounia 05:00

5. Canto di Restanza #1 02:02

6. Canto di Restanza #2 02:21

7. A New Ceiba 05:46

8. Black Narcissus 05:31

9. Carpet Stories 06:19

Dario Piccioni - double bass, acoustic bass

Vittorio Solimene - piano

Michele Santoleri - drums

Veronica Marini voice on #7, 9

All compositions by Dario Piccioni (ed. mus. Jazz Engine) except #8 by Joe Henderson

Produced by Dario Piccioni

Exectuive producer: Marco Valente

Recorded at Extrabeat Studio - Roma

Mixed and mastered by Eugenio Vatta

Cover photo by Valentina Smeraldi/Fabio Baudo

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