Francesco Patti, Andrea Domenici, Giuseppe Cucchiara, Andrea Niccolai: A Sound in Common

Album titles can sometimes be mystifying, enigmatic, strange, or in this case, perfectly apt. A Sound In Common links four Italian musicians who share a passion for composing and playing their own brand of swinging contemporary jazz, springing from roots firmly planted in grounded post-bop language.

This album, featuring mainly original tunes, is their first as a group. They all have strong backgrounds both in Italy and the US. Saxophonist Francesco Patti is a winner of several international awards, pianist Andrea Domenici is a New York resident whose album, Playing Who I Am (Abeat records, 2019) features Peter Washington on bass and Billy Drummond on drums (see review). Another New York resident, bassist Giuseppe Cucchiara has been mentored for over four years by Ron Carter. Concluding the line-up, drummer Andrea Niccolai leads the Andrea Niccolai 4tet, who play regularly at the Ornithology jazz club in Brooklyn.

The line-up is augmented on three tracks by the talents of guitarist, Peter Bernstein. Bernstein is much admired, having been a member of bands fronted by Jimmy Cobb, and Diana Krall. In addition, he has played with many major artists including Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz and Eric Alexander. He also contributes one of his own compositions to this album.

The album opens with "2048" which drifts in on a swinging saxophone and electric guitar melody. This satisfying track features inventive solos from Bernstein, Patti and Domenici, with Cucchiara and Niccolai ensuring that the momentum stays on point throughout. Cucchiara's melancholy-tinged, "Daedalus' Dream" slows the pace. The composer takes his time with a well-judged bass solo before passing the baton to the piano and saxophone to close. "Deck Five," written by Patti, is one of the stand-out tracks, up-tempo Latin-infused rhythms underpin an insistent melody with his fluid saxophone at its best.

Inspired by the Italian Appennini mountain range, Domenici's gentle composition, "My Mountains," brings the return of Bernstein. His warm-toned solo is supported by Cucchiara's subtle bass and a well-judged break from Domenici. An improvised bass solo leads into Cucchiara's up-tempo "Jordan River," Patti builds a solid solo and Domenici finds his finest moments in a flowing piano improvisation. Bernstein's "Simple As That" closes the album. Sitting neatly with the other compositions, it is a classy tune with an open lucid guitar sound, saxophone weaving around the melody and Niccolai's nimble drums keeping the rhythmic focus.

This is music that can lure the listener with warm and rounded tones. Bernstein's improvisations are a real bonus, adding richness and depth to what is already a fluid sound. This album has plenty of character and personality, it keeps the attention with the strong original compositions, played with passion and swing, which have resulted in a thoroughly entertaining session.