CD Review: Kino Trio - Il Ciela Sopra Berlina

Bruno Heinen (piano); Michele Tacchi (fretless bass); Riccardo Chiaberta (drums).

(Review by Lance).

The Kino Trio - two Italian musicians now London based and a Brit with a foreign sounding name (Brexit's making us all very nationality conscious - bring a contemporary feel to the traditional piano, bass and drums setup. At times it could be mistaken for a modern classical ensemble with all three instruments interweaving their chosen lines on eight original compositions. Surprisingly, pianist Heinen only puts one piece into the pot whereas Tacchi supplies four and Chiaberta three.

However, as all three have worked and toured together in various combinations over the years no doubt the input will have been three-dimensional. The music is ephemeral, floating, only occasionally coming together for some conventional swinging. Although time signatures are sometimes difficult to identify this doesn't detract but, instead, adds to the abstract beauty of the album.

Tacchi's fretless basslines are tasteful with an almost cello-like sonority, Heinen is explorative, searching, discovering new worlds and, strangely, bringing to mind a combination of Chopin, Liszt and Bill Evans  Chiaberta contributes effectively, unobtrusively meeting the others on a level playing field - no one gets hurt.

Well worth checking out or catching them live in London or Luton - details.

Lance.
Currently available on the Babel Label (BDV 19154)
Try/Buy.