Francesco Bearzatti - Bizart Trio: Virus (2003)

Glenn Astarita

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Published: May 1, 2003

Francesco Bearzatti - Bizart Trio: Virus

Italian multi-woodwind ace Francesco Bearzatti mans the helm on Virus, along with superb support from French organist/electronics whiz Emmanuel Bex and famed drummer Aldo Romano. Whereas, special guest artists chip in on certain tracks.

Bearzatti undoes conventional organ-based trio fare with some cleverly devised arrangements. Sure, they swing and churn out a few stifling bop burners, but the group reaps strong dividends via glowing sonic characteristics and avant-garde based shifts in direction. Bex injects subtle EFX to coincide with a series of chirpy choruses, hard-hitting jazz-funk escapades and much more. Bearzatti’s deft clarinet work on “Hey” is nicely augmented by Bex’s implementation of a digital clarinet keyboard patch. It’s easily discernible that the band is having a blast, as they frequently alter previously rendered motifs via cunning improvisational opuses, in concert with a silky smooth edge.

Trombonist Mauro Ottolini’s blustery solo on the bop cooker “Cattivik” only adds to this band’s spacey, musical architectures — featuring weighty jazz grooves, and a sometimes punk-ish demeanor. They also intermix dreamy soundscapes and blues-drenched licks into the production. A wonderfully inventive outing indeed! Zestfully recommended...

*This enhanced CD also contains a ROM track with videos and photos.

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Track Listing: 1.Zouzou 2.Hey! 3.Going to the

Personnel: Francesco Bearzatti: tenor and soprano sax, clarinet

Record Label: Auand
Style: Modern Jazz