Manu Katché

‘aQustico’ (2013) - new album. This is the fifth recording _ 2013 _ under the name of the trumpet player from Benevento. Since the very first listening, it proves to be the crowning achievement of a walk started with his debut work ‘Sopra le nuvole’ (2007 - Universal/Emarcy), followed by ‘Lunaria’ (2008 – Universal/Emarcy), ’Icaro Solo’ (2010 – Universal/Emarcy) and ‘Chiaro’ (2011 – Tùk Music/My Favorite/EMI). This is the second work recorded for Paolo Fresu’s label (Tùk Music) which has been standing out for releasing brilliant and original works by accurately chosen artists of high instrumental and creative abilities. In the meanwhile, Luca has been part in a wide range of projects and with the most diverse musicians, confirming some of his best qualities as an artist: generosity, curiosity and versatility. Just to mention some: he recorded with the ‘Skopje Connection’ project, he gave life to a duet with Roberto Cherillo in the delectable record ‘Soffice’ (2011 – Picanto Records), he supported two Benevento-based projects created by early years friends musicians and former gig mates such as ‘La Costituente’ and ‘Depistaggio 4et – Tribute to Led Zeppelin’ or the Jano 4et, where he features as a guest artist. 2012 has seen two fundamental steps in Luca Aquino’s career. He has become permanent member of French drummer Manù Katchè’s band, touring all over the world and sharing stage with such artists as Tore Brunborg, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jim Watson; and he took part in 2012 Roccella Jazz Festival concert event playing with Jon Hassell and Enrico Rava in a unique project, created and produced by Hassell himself and called ‘Sketches of the Mediterranean Celebrating Gil Evans’. Let’s look at aQustico. Since the very first listening, all the major qualities of this trumpeter are disclosed, i.e. love for melody, fine phrasing and sound, all blended in a melting pot that is never obvious and that on the contrary manifests intellectual as well as disillusioned tones. A compositional levity, sometimes impudent, which deepen its roots in a lightness of heart is his stylistic hallmark. All previous experiences that Aquino has lived since his debut are here: traditional and free jazz, his love for Nordic and Balcan athmosphere, going through Mediterranean melody with very easy motifs, up until progressive and experimental music. From a compositional point of view, this is a great work, well-written and displaying an outstanding maturity, of which a glimpse could be caught in Icaro and Chiaro. In this work we can feel a natural, genuine wish to surprise, never obvious or clichéd, but appearing as the result of a linear though uncontrived path and surprise never abandons us while listening to each track. The deliberate lack of electronics in ‘aQustico’ emphasizes the Beneventan trumpeter’s maturity. The sound of the trumpet and of the flugelhorn alike is authentic, fuzzy and bright at the same time in a perfect balance. There is style reference to various trumpeters such as Rava, Douglas, his guru Fresu, the beloved Arve Henriksen among the modern ones. But we can also find echoes of the masters Davis, Baker e Hubbard, always seeped through his own personal style and sound that are peculiar to him. Once again Luca Aquino amazes, telling us that being different and venturing in challenging lands of expression and composition is possible. Even in an age mainly featuring a dullness of the jazz language and of improvised music. He successfully challenges, beating them, all those musicians whose firing of eighth-notes and high-notes is their raison d’etre’. We find fine, well-written and original music phrases. Hard Bop riffs and Free loud cries coexist with delicate blows and sweet tunes proving genuine and authentic music. The seven tracks in this work help us explore Luca Aquino’s expressive universe, assisted by his music travel mates. Seven recordings designed as small suites or as memory short films, music conceived as pictures in always changing patterns as in a kaleidoscope of ideas. Gregorio Rucco

• published: 13 Jan 2016
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