Cinquide is a 10th Anniversary jazz display from Franco Baggiani & Urbanfunk. Right off the bat, this record begs to be listened several times before you can feel certain about its highs and possible lows, depending on where you stand on funk based droning jazz with obvious references to Miles Davis.

The record is characterized by mid-tempo, mid-toned performances, with scant exceptions such as “Facile” –featuring a bopish happy march– and “Pakkumano” with its evenly paced interesting freneticism that quits just as it is getting really good. The riff-based writing has a droning persona baptized in varying meaty-to-utterly predictable solos and ensemble playing. “Sfagio,” for example, seems to be just a soloing venue based on the opening bar of Monty Norman’s “James Bond Theme.” Although clearly toned, ably and expressively soloed by all concerned –with some flashes of brilliance– many listeners will find an annoying similarity in tone, ideas, feelings and expressions throughout the record in spite of the talent present.

Contact : Franco Baggiani & Sound Records-Italy .