Maria Chiara Argiró (piano & compositions), Sam Rapley (tenor saxophone, clarinet & bass clarinet), Tal Janes (guitar), Andrea Di Biase (double bass), Gaspar Sena (drums) & Leila Martial (vocals)
(Review by Russell)
The focus is on Maria Chiara Argiró the composer as much as it is the pianist on this new CD. Ten tracks spanning a little over fifty four minutes, The Fall Dance presents Argiró’s writing for sextet with Leila Martial’s vocal stylings to the fore. Italian-born, Argiró has a London base from which to work with the musicians heard on this March 2016 recording.
Ethereal folk melodies pervade the album, the bass and drums pairing of Andrea Di Biase and Gaspar Sena a jazz touchstone, Sam Rapley’s reeds and Tal Janes’ guitar punctuating the compositional landscape, simultaneously engaging with Martial’s vocals. Dream R (a one minute and one second Dream R Intro precedes it) incorporates many elements heard throughout the recording with Sam Rapley’s dramatic bass clarinet cadenza a highlight. It is Stanhope Gardens (track seven) which finds the ensemble freeing itself of the shackles, Janes’ guitar setting up a taut collective Balkan dance – the sort of tune Mr Gilad Atzmon would relish. The title track, the penultimate cut on the album, covers a lot of ground. An amalgam of Martial’s Björk-inspired vocals, rivet-punching drum ‘n’ bass, jazz reeds and Argiró’s composer’s hand firmly on the tiller. Zen Song takes it out; leisurely, Di Biase’s measured solo, Argiró at the keyboard, a cinematic sweep, fade to…
Russell.
The Fall Dance by Maria Chiara Argiró is available now on Odradek Records (ODRCD513). Maria Chiara Argiró is on tour, including an appearance at the Jazz Café, Newcastle on Friday 10th February. Note vocalist Leila Martial will not be appearing in Newcastle.
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