Record Reviews

RICARDO FASSI TANKIO BAND ~ PLAYS ZAPPA: THE RETURN OF THE FAT CHICKEN ALFA MUSIC 200 (Barcode: 8032050017112) ~ ITALY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by a Big Band led by Italian pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Ricardo FassiFind albums by this artist, which, as the title suggests, is dedicated to the music of Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist. The Big Band includes many top Italian Jazz instrumentalists and an impressive list of guests, including vocalist / saxophonist Napoleon Murphy BrockFind albums by this artist, who took park is many recordings with Zappa’s bands. Also present are: Russian trumpeter Alex SipiaginFind albums by this artist, Italian clarinetist Gabriele MirabassiFind albums by this artist, Cuban (resident in Italy) violinist Ruben ChavianoFind albums by this artist, trombonist Mario CorviniFind albums by this artist and accordionist Antonello SalisFind albums by this artist. The album presents seventeen tracks, ten of which are Zappa’s compositions, one is by George DukeFind albums by this artist, and the remaining six, which are sort of short interludes between the Zappa related material, are composed by Fassi, Salis or co-composed by them both. The music is absolutely gorgeous, all brilliantly arranged and spotlessly executed by the Big Band. It is, however, quite different from the original material, as performed by Zappa with his various groups, and as such might come as a surprise to many of his fans, who might accidentally stumble upon this album. The arrangements herein offer a classic European Jazz Big Band approach which is fundamentally different from the usual Zappaesque Fusion approach, which always includes Rock elements, which are absent here, and of course there is (almost) no guitar presence. However, having said all this, the music remains magnificent as ever, emphasizing Zappa’s enormous talent as a composer, which is fully exposed herein. The presence of Brock’s vocals offers a familiar bridge between the Zappa universe and this interpretation of his work. The Big Band / Orchestral works by Zappa are of course one of his many pinnacles as an Artists, but his ensembles were usually never full sized Jazz Big Bands per se and his approach to arrangements and band dynamics were diametrically different from the classic Jazz Big Band environment. As a result, this recording shows how Zappa’s music could have sounded, if his destiny would have led him to evolve in a Jazz rather that Rock environment, which of course is very educational in addition to being superbly entertaining. Fassi and his colleagues are to be congratulated for pulling the “mission impossible” task without a hitch. It takes a lot of courage and professionalism to undertake a project of this scale, and when everything works as well as it does here, hats off are in order. Overall, this is brilliant cross-genre transition of the divine artistry, composed by the most original talent in American 20th Century music, which was done not only professionally, skillfully and with a lot of originality, but also with enormous dose of love and dedication. Such projects are, sadly, quite rare, which is a great pity, but the European atmosphere of aesthetics and appreciation of Art proves once again to be a winning environment.

Updated: 11/08/2023Posted: 11/08/2023

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KESTUTIS VAIGINIS ~ MUSICAL CONVERSATIONS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 4772145016999) ~ LITHUANIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by Lithuanian saxophonist / composer Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist recorded in NY in a classic sextet setting with Russian (resident in US) trumpeter Alex SipiaginFind albums by this artist and Boris KozlovFind albums by this artist and American trombonist Andy HunterFind albums by this artist, pianist David KikoskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Donald EdwardsFind albums by this artist. A string quartet is featured on one track. The album presents eleven original compositions, four by the leader, two each by Sipiagin and Edwards and one each by Kikoski, Kozlov and Hunter. The music is all within the modern mainstream Jazz idiom, based on very solid and coherent compositions, including several lyrical ballads, which are excellent. The performances and the recording quality are absolutely perfect, as expected from these world class musicians. Most of the soloing is naturally performed by the leader, who plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophones and bass clarinet, all with the same level of excellence. But all the members of the sextet get ample opportunity to show their licks. Overall, this is a classic mainstream Jazz album, which offers first-rate music and performances from start to finish, diverse compositions and obvious aesthetic values. It is a relatively rare opportunity to hear Jazz originating from Lithuania, which is less prominent outside the country’s borders. It is also a wonderful proof of the camaraderie and complete lack of barriers between Jazz musicians from all over the world. One can only wish that similar harmony could be achieved in other areas. Very well done, indeed!

Updated: 21/02/2022Posted: 21/02/2022

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