Fabrizio D'Alisera
realizes a modern mainstream record, in the company of three musicians versed
in the genre and hosting a saxophone alter ego of weight and competence, such
as Max Ionata, present in four of the eight pieces. The repertoire consists of
seven originals, mostly signed by the group leader and a standard, "A
Weaver Of Dreams" made famous by Nat King Cole. We move from hardboppistic
brand themes, such as "N2" and "The Whaler", to funky
tracks, such as "Crossthing". We pass from songs with a vague
Brazilian flavor, "I Ain't Got Nothin' But A Bicycle" to nostalgie
tanghere, in "Dear Now". "Frame Shop", on the other hand,
is a heartfelt and melancholy ballad. "Quarantena" is on medium tempo
with a pressing, looming battery and the soloists led to create their interventions
in a relaxed and melodic way, without causing, however, a contrast with the
rhythmic base. The best segment is, perhaps, the last, reserved for Elliott's
classic -Young, with "A Weaver Of Dreams". The strengths of the disc
are certainly represented by the dialogues between the two saxophonists, two
characters similar in the way of understanding jazz and with an appropriate
knowledge of tradition and current events, always in the context of the
"mainstream" of African American music. Enrico Bracco, Maurizio
Perrone and Mario Linneri are, for their part, precise, correct and in line
with what is asked of them by the band leader. The record certainly does not
scream a miracle. The intentions of D'Alisera and associates, on the other
hand, are to bring out the pronunciation and familiarity with the jazz idiom in
their project, trying to shuffle the cards a little to produce something linked
to tradition, but not fossilized on the same. From this point of view, the
objective can be considered achieved. ~ Gianni Montano [Translated from
Italian], Jazzitalia.
Alfa Music, AFPCD139, 2013 Recording and Mixing At Monk
Studio Segni, Rome, Italy
