Nicola Conte • Other Directions

Review by Thom Jurek

For those who became acquainted with Nicola Conte via his Bossa Per Due and Jet Sounds Revisited, Other Directions will come as a real surprise. Along with being a producer and DJ, Conte is a classically trained musician who is a multi-instrumentalist and a very accomplished arranger. His previous work in the acid jazz and electronic bossa movements could not have prepared listeners for this solid jazz and bossa nova set. Working with a tough, top-notch group of Italian jazz players -- the country's jazz scene has a built-in lyricism, whether in the vanguard realm or in the "tradition" that puts most American counterparts to shame in terms of swing -- Conte uses all but his DJ skills to create a musical tapestry that reflects the perfect meld of jazz and bossa that occurred in the early '60s while moving both musics forward with his sophisticated yet soulful and accessible arrangements. Till Bronner guests on "Sea and Sand," the disc's first cut, playing trumpet and singing in his plaintive, Chet Baker-derived style (he's a more proficient singer than his mentor). On "Wanin' Moon," Bembe Segue gets the vocal nod, but it's saxophonist Daniele Scannapieco and flugelhornist Fabrizio Bosso with their exotic yet bluesy solos that take the cake on the tune. The Afro-Brazilian rhythmics on "Nefertiti," (no relation to the Miles Davis tune) drive a wordless vocal and tight horn section that counters the intense polyrhythms as Bosso's trumpet takes the first break, wailing in the middle register with relatively few notes to capture the dark groove perfectly. Pierpaolo Bisogno's vibraphone keeps soloists and percussionists anchored in the groove. "A time for Spring" gently nods toward "Take Five," for its intro, before becoming a shimmering, pop-jazz nugget that combines bossa, cool, and post-bop. Truth be told, there isn't a dud in the bunch. The vibe is relaxed, the music open, even when complex -- check out "Dharma Bums" -- and the execution is precise and full of soulful, airy grooves. Bossa nova is the wheel on which everything turns here, and Conte knows how to shade and color his harmonics with texture and chromatic subtlety. This is a jazz record for folks who don't really like jazz, but jazz fans will be delighted by its many twists and turns, never forsaking vamps or lyricism for rhythm, while making rhythm a central tenet of each composition. This is a winner through and through. It's a shame it was only issued on Blue Note in Europe (the American label is largely clueless and is trying to score pop radio hits these days while issuing the same jazz records over and over). Other Directions is the perfect recording for American fans of fine jazz and bossa nova. It's hip, elegant, graceful, and smart.

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Revisión por Thom Jurek

Para aquellos que conocieron a Nicola Conte a través de su Bossa Per Due y Jet Sounds Revisited, Other Directions será una verdadera sorpresa. Además de ser productor y DJ, Conte es un músico de formación clásica que es un multi-instrumentista y un arreglista muy logrado. Su trabajo anterior en los movimientos de jazz ácido y bossa electrónica no podría haber preparado a los oyentes para este sólido conjunto de jazz y bossa nova. Trabajando con un grupo fuerte y de primera categoría de músicos de jazz italianos, la escena de jazz del país tiene un lirismo incorporado, ya sea en el ámbito de la vanguardia o en la "tradición" que avergüenza a la mayoría de las contrapartes estadounidenses en términos de swing. Conte utiliza todas sus habilidades, excepto las de DJ, para crear un tapiz musical que refleja la perfecta combinación de jazz y bossa que se produjo a principios de los años 60, al tiempo que movía ambas músicas hacia adelante con sus sofisticados pero conmovedores arreglos accesibles. Hasta los invitados de Bronner en "Sea and Sand", el primer corte del disco, tocando la trompeta y cantando en su estilo lastimero, derivado de Chet Baker (es un cantante más competente que su mentor). En "Wanin 'Moon", Bembe Segue recibe el guiño vocal, pero se trata del saxofonista Daniele Scannapieco y del flugelhornista Fabrizio Bosso, con sus solos exóticos pero de blues que hacen que la torta se ponga a tono. Las rítmicas afro-brasileñas en "Nefertiti" (sin relación con la melodía de Miles Davis) conducen una sección vocal sin palabras y una trompa estrecha que contrarresta los polirritmos intensos cuando la trompeta de Bosso toma el primer salto, que se lamenta en el registro central con relativamente pocas notas. capturar el surco oscuro perfectamente. El vibráfono de Pierpaolo Bisogno mantiene a los solistas y percusionistas anclados en el ritmo. "A time for Spring" asiente suavemente hacia "Take Five", por su introducción, antes de convertirse en un nugget brillante de pop-jazz que combina bossa, cool y post-bop. La verdad sea dicha, no hay un error en el grupo. El ambiente es relajado, la música abierta, incluso cuando es compleja, echa un vistazo a "Dharma Bums", y la ejecución es precisa y llena de emocionantes y aireados surcos. Bossa nova es la rueda en la que todo gira aquí, y Conte sabe cómo sombrear y colorear sus armónicos con textura y sutileza cromática. Este es un disco de jazz para las personas a las que no les gusta mucho el jazz, pero los fanáticos del jazz estarán encantados con sus muchos giros y vueltas, sin dejar de lado los vampiros o el lirismo por el ritmo, al tiempo que hacen del ritmo un principio central de cada composición. Este es un ganador a través y por medio. Es una pena que solo se emitiera en Blue Note en Europa (el sello estadounidense no tiene ni idea y está intentando marcar éxitos de la radio pop en estos días mientras emite los mismos discos de jazz una y otra vez). Other Directions es la grabación perfecta para los fanáticos estadounidenses del jazz fino y la bossa nova. Es moderno, elegante, elegante e inteligente.

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Temas:
CD1
01. Sea And Sand [03:59]
02. Wanin' Moon [04:56]
03. Nefertiti [06:19]
04. Impulso [04:32]
05. A Time For Spring [03:57]
06. Kind Of Sunshine [05:42]
07. Aphrodite's Dream [04:33]
08. Several Shades Of Dawn [03:37]
09. The Dharma Bums [04:51]
10. All Gone [04:09]
11. Other Directions [05:55]
12. The In Between [04:04]
13. Le Depart [04:05]

CD2
01. Charade [05:37]
02. Danubian [03:27]
03. Bohemian's Dilemma [04:56]
04. Nefertiti (Alternative Version) [06:23]
05. Waltz Of The Sirens [07:06]
06. Teardrop Painted Blue [04:18]
07. Quiet Stars [02:58]
08. Kind Of Sunshine (Extended Version) [06:07]
09. Wanin' Moon (Alternative Version) [04:37]

Nicola Conte Composer, Guitar, Primary Artist
Lisa Bassenge Vocals
Pierpaolo Bisogno Bongos, Vibraphone
Fabrizio Bosso Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Till Brönner Trumpet, Vocals
Pietro Ciancaglini Double Bass
Rosario Giuliani Sax (Alto)
Pietro Lussu Piano
Lucia Minetti Vocals
Gianluca Petrella Trombone
Daniele Scannapieco Sax (Tenor)
Bembe Segue Vocals
Nicola Stilo Flute
Lorenzo Tucci Drums
Cristina Zavalloni Vocals



Total Time: 01:45:37

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