Luca Aquino – aQustico (2013) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

Luca Aquino is an Italian trumpet player and composer. He is known for his unique trumpet sound and for the use of natural reverberation in his music compositions. ‘Aqustico’ is more than an album, this magnificent meeting of minds and styles, performed by virtuosi musicians, also represents a project.

In this engaging and intimate effort, Aquino, backed by a superb group consisting of accordion with rhythm section, explores extended musical textures and sends up an intriguing set of seven sonic portraits. Unlike some of his previous recordings, aQustico employs no electronic effects. This is an entirely acoustic exposition in which Aquino and crew are free to rely on their personal musical statements and their collective inter-communication. The repertoire consists primarily of elegantly simple melodies—primarily modal and scalar themes that are almost folk-like—followed by longer improvisations. Varied rhythmic interludes within each selection generate appropriate tension and resolve. Pacing is predominately balladic and beautiful (“Chet e Liz”). There are some smatterings of free improvisation (“Japan Pop”) and little straight ahead jazz.

Aquino has a gorgeous trumpet and flugelhorn sound that resonates beauty and vulnerability—there’s a child’s voice singing in there. His improvisations, more melismatic than boppish, are lengthy ribbon-like explorations of tonality and they drip intimate expression (“Mastroianni,” “Aqustico”). Some of his work here respectfully ghosts Chris Botti, Chet Baker and Miles Davis. The doubling of Aquino’s horns with Carmine Ioanna’s talented accordion and with Sade Mangiaracina’s piano is just superb (“Aqustico”). Both Ioanna and Mangiaracina are highly involved in the tone-painting throughout and offer solos that reinforce the reserved, somewhat romantic nature of the selections (“La Ninna Nanna del Capitano”). Giorgio Vendola’s bass is robust and Alessandro Marzi’s percussion is as tasteful as what takes place around him (“Incerto”). Whether the genetics present in Luca Aquino are explorer-intensive or not, aQustico is a solid artistic vessel that leads the imagination to shores of beauty, riches and an abundance of joy.

Tracklist:
01 – Mastroianni
02 – Aqustico
03 – Chet e Liz
04 – 1/2 Cuba Dani Kira
05 – Incerto
06 – Japan Pop
07 – La ninna nanna del capitano

Recorded on November 20-22, 2012 at Studio ArteSuono, Cavalicco, Udine, Italy.
Engineered & Mastered by Stefano Amerio.

Musicians:
Luca Aquino – trumpet and flugelhorn
Carmine Ioanna – accordion, electronic effects
Sade Mangiaracina – piano
Giorgio Vendola – bass
Alessandro Marzi – drums and percussion

Download:

mqs.link_LucaAquinaQustic2013Qbuz24882.rar

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