SLAMCD566 Lucia Ianniello – Maintenant

‘Maintenant’ is Italian trumpeter and composer Lucia Ianniello‘s first album as a bandleader, it was inspired by pianist/composer/multi-bandleader Horace Tapscott and the music of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra.

This unique drumless album is a work of auditory images, atmospheres and soundscapes, with particular exploration of melody and timbre. The quartet offers a “sound chamber” obtained, despite a significant presence of electronic instruments and effects, through the trumpeter’s arrangements, characterised by the absence of drums and the use of the instrumental voice without text.

Lucia Ianniello: Bb and C trumpet, flugelhorn, effects and objects
Diana Torti: voice
Giuseppe La Spina: guitars
Paolo Tombolesi: keyboards, acoustic bass and percussion

“Once again, the SLAM label introduces us to a new cast of fine Italian jazz musicians. Ianniello plays trumpets, leads the quartet and wrote all of the arrangements here…She wrote half of the pieces here and covers a song by Horace Tapscott as well as two by Arkestra member Jesse Sharps. The title track is an original by Ianniello and opens this disc. It is a lovely, laid-back ballad of sorts and features some sublime, spacey flugelhorn, exquisite piano and minimal sensuous vocal sounds. The two long pieces here were written by Sharps are magical, enchanting and elegant works. The superb, lush trumpet tone by Ianniello and superb, haunting sound of La Spina’s guitar are featured on both.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

“I especially like the work of Torti. She has a nice flowing voice and uses it effectively…The highlights of the CD, besides the melodies, are the great interplay between the members of the band. Ianniello and Torti turn in some excellent work together, as do Iannielli and La Spina and Tombolesi…sit back and enjoy.” – Bernie Koenig, Cadence Magazine

“Iannniello’s debut release as a leader features here stunning abilities on brass, and she’s joined by some other great players, too…I absolutely loved Paolo’s Rhodes/electric piano sounds on the opening title track, “Maintenant”…My favourite of the eight songs offered up is the beautiful “Desert Fairy Princess”…Diana’s vocal is simply superb!” – Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation

“Iannniello creates a wondrous mix of experimentation and swing…Creating mystical shadows with her muted horn as it blends with voice and guitar on the title track. Her sound is lonely and delicate as she opens her horn on “Ballad for Samuel” and teams it with Tombolesi’s synth on “Other.” Some rich African percussion teams up with Torti’s ethereal vice on “Desert Fairy Princess” and La Spina’s gentle guitar adds some blue tones to the gentle ripples of “Preliminarires Amoureux.” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Recorded in Rome, Italy from July 2014 to March 2015
Recording and mastering by Cecafumo

SLAM CATALOGUE