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This album set features some guest artists that’s bound to get this album the attention it deserves. These include star of Blue Note, Lionel Loueke (see his album Karibu that also features bassist Biolcati) and oddly, for the ninth release in ObliqSounds’ ‘Instrumental Series’ two American vocalists, Lizz Wright and Gretchen Parlato.

Gretchen Parlato is a ‘typical’ jazz vocalist who Herbie Hancock described as having a “deep, almost magical connection to the music”. She is also signed to Obliqsound and has her own album out next year. ‘Clouds’ is a good example of what Hancock is refering to as Loueke and Biolcati trade gentle blows with Jeff Ballard’s brushes.

Ms. Wright on ‘Winterhouse’ is more soulful with her “classic jazz” vocals and is as perfect as you could possible get (with lyrics. by the Norwegian poet and writer Mona Vetrhus). Both these vocal tracks are on the second part of the album; Part 1 is Motion and Part 2 is Stillness. If you’re into ballads with a gentle 2am feel about them, Stillness is for you. ‘Under July’ is very expressive and shows great interplay with Biolcati, Loueke, Peter Rende (piano) and Ballard (drums).

The album ends with ‘Scandinavia’ (don’t be confused by Biolcati’s last name as he was born in Sweden) and features Rende on dock-side accordian and vocals of a sea-shanty nature. It’s a bit of a odd one and a grower at the same time.

The five tracks that form Part 1’s Motion starts with the part broken-reggae ‘The Beginning’ and gets pacey with ‘Deconstruction’, the one that Max Reinhardt played on Radio 3’s Late Junction and Loueke and band get a bit Spanish which is no doubt why he played it.

On ‘Wise Way’ and ‘Transference’ we hear some of Loueke’s West African influences from Benin at the same time as his George Benson influenced guitar playing. The album closes in minimal jazz samba session as a tribute to Take Toriyama who died last summer in New York.

I’m not been too sure listening to this CD as to wether I prefer Part 1 or 2 but I don’t know why l’ve been trying to do that as it just doen’st need to be put in those ‘Motion’ or ‘Stillness’ bags. Top tracks at the moment are finale of ‘Scandinavia’ and the opener, ‘The Beginning’ but there’s lots to be enjoyed on yet another debut release on ObliqSound.

“The album is titled in homage to the classic Ingmar Bergman film, and thematically structured in two sections to reflect the film’s concept of duality. Persona is a dual portrait of Biolcati’ s strengths as performer and composer”.

Reviewed: Massimo Biolcati - Persona (ObliqSound) Cat No. 823889950927 Release date: March 2008
Motion
1. The Beginning (5:10)
2. Deconstruction (5:09)
3. Wise Way (7:11)
4. Transference (8:14)
5. TT (In Memoriam Take Toriyama) (4:33)
Stillness
1. Winterhouse feat. Lizz Wright (4:32)
2. Hopeless Dream To Be (5:09)
3. Clouds feat Gretchen Parlato (5:48)
4. Under July (7:42)
5. Scandinavia (6:40)

Links
www.massimobiolcati.com
www.obliqsound.com
www.myspace.com/obliqsound
www.myspace.com/lionelloueke
www.lizzwright.net
www.gretchenparlato.com
www.myspace.com/gretchenparlato
www.myspace.com/lizzwright
11th December 2008 Francisco Pais Lotus Project -
Gretchen Parlato, Ferenc Nemeth and Massimo Biolcati : Duc des Lombards - 42, rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France Tel: 01.42.33.22.88 www.ducdeslombards.com
27 March 2008
Thursday 27 March 2008 23:15-1:00 (Late Junction, Radio 3) Max Reinhardt presents eclectic and laid-back sounds from across the globe.
Biolcati: Deconstruction’ Massimo Biolcati; Lionel Loueke; Pete Rende; Jeff Ballard
Taken from the album Persona Obliq Sound LC 12269
RIP Take Toriyama