Showing posts with label Massimo Biolcati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Massimo Biolcati. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Yoko Miwa - In The Mist Of Time (2001)

‘In the Mist of Time’ is the debut album by the Boston based Japanese jazz pianist Yoko Miwa. Released in 2001, it features a collection of original compositions and one traditional Japanese folk song, showcasing her talent as both a pianist and composer. For this album she chose bassist Massimo Biolcati, drummer Scott Goulding and guest tenorist Tim Mayer on three tunes. 

Yoko Miwa demonstrates a full command of the inner-directed, post-Bill Evans piano idiom, which also takes in the work of Keith ]arrett and, to lesser extents, Chick Corea and Steve Kuhn… displays her burgeoning talent as a writer of melodically inviting, impressionistic material, as well as introducing a technically assured soloist with a clean, singing sound and an occasional penchant for the blues in pastels.” ~ James Isaacs, DJ and Jazz Critic. 

In the Mist of Time displays the depth and breadth of Yoko Miwa’s talent." ~ Boston Herald. 

Yoko Miwa, Digital DL, 2001
PJL Records, MTCJ-3023, 2005
Recorded 20th-21st June, 2000 at PBS Studios, Westwood, Massachusetts 

Musicians:
Yoko Miwa - Piano
Massimo Biolcati - Bass
Scott Goulding - Drums
Tim Mayer - Tenor Sax (#2,6,8) 

Tracks:
1. Fragmented Memories {Yoko Miwa} (5:47)
2. The Deep End {Yoko Miwa} (9:14)
3. I’m Okay {Yoko Miwa} (4:55)
4. Alice {Yoko Miwa} (8:06)
5. In The Mist Of Time {Yoko Miwa} (7:48)
6. When Will It Happen {Yoko Miwa} (8:11)
7. Promise {Yoko Miwa} (6:48)
8. Oak Square Blues {Yoko Miwa} (5:27)
9. Red Dragonfly {Japanese Folk Song} (3:04) 

Total Time: 59:23 

Credits:
Producer - Yoko Miwa
Recording Engineer - Peter Kontrimas
Mastering Engineer - Seiji Kaneko
Photography - Robin Z. Boger, Eva Rubinstein, Masao Ota
A&R - Takashi Tannaka
Design - Junko Ishino

LINK

In The Mist Of Time

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Massimo Biolcati - Persona (2008)

Swedish-Italian bassist Massimo Biolcati has been working in support of guitarist Lionel Loueke for a decade, but asserts his role as a leader in name on this debut release. Loueke is here, with the always dynamic drummer Jeff Ballard and the surprisingly adept pianist Peter Rende. The CD is split into equal parts of five selections - "Motion" and "Stillness" - the former energetic and forward-thinking, the latter pensive and somewhat introspective, with cameo spots for vocalists Lizz Wright and Gretchen Parlato. The first five pieces feature Loueke in a way that his recordings as a leader also showcase his utterly brilliant, witty, quirky, unique sound. Using a hollowed, blanked-out amplified guitar with effect pedals, Loueke is able to straddle the electro-acoustic line without overemphasizing either. He is the new contemporary Lion King of freshness on the contemporary jazz guitar, and a parallel to the virtuoso accomplishments of Wes Montgomery, using those pretexts but sounding far removed. Check out the choppy kinetic style on "The Beginning," the late-night stealth approach on "Deconstruction," and the quick 5/4 rhythms in the more acoustic/less-processed road song "Transference" for reference points. Rende is a find, as his happy two-note phrases juxtaposed against Loueke contrast on the swinging shuffle "Wise Way." Their diffuse guitar/piano musings go very loose, free, and yet contemporary with Loueke's cheek-popping vocals during "TT." The second half of the program showcases the understated, delicate, and pretty side of Rende on "Under July," where Biolcati takes a central role on an ostinato line, with Loueke leading, but taken over by the beauty of the piano. Rende plays accordion on the 6/8 ethnic beat of "Scandinavia," evoking early-morning frosty mountainscapes in the Alps. The vocal cuts are nice enough, with Wright expressing a sheer lonely mood for "Winterhouse" and the emerging star Parlato dreamy and cerebral during "Clouds." Biolcati, clearly the director but not a dictator in these proceedings, knows how to take a back seat, but also understands the value in letting his brilliant session mates cut loose. This is an excellent debut release, and has to rank as one of the more intriguing and diverse modern jazz issues of 2008. ~ Michael G. Nastos, AMG. 

ObliqSound Records, OS 509, 2008
Recorded 13th & 14th May, 2007 at Kampo Cultural Center, New York 

Musicians:
Massimo Biolcati - Bass
Lionel Loueke - Guitar, Vocals
Peter Rende - Piano, Accordion (#10)
Jeff Ballard - Drums, Percussion
Lizz Wright - Vocals (#6)
Mona Vetrhus - Lyrics (#6)
Gretchen Parlato - Vocals, Lyrics (#8)

Tracklist:

Motion
01. The Beginning (5:08)
02. Deconstruction (5:08)
03. Wise Way (7:10)
04. Transference (8:13)
05. TT [In Memoriam Take Toriyama] (4:31)
Stillness
06. Winterhouse (4:31)
07. Hopeless Dream To Be (5:08)
08. Clouds (5:47)
09. Under July (7:40)
10. Scandinavia (6:39) 

All music composed by Massimo Biolcati 

Total Time: 59:59 

Credits:
Producer - Michele Locatelli
Engineer - Juan Pablo Alcaro
Assistant Engineer - Ariosto Arata
Product Manager - Stephanie Jo Klein
Photography - Carsten Fleck
Design - Andrea Ruggiero

LINK

Deconstruction