Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Simone Guiducci Gramelot Ensemble: Cantador

171

Simone Guiducci Gramelot Ensemble: Cantador

By

Sign in to view read count
Simone Guiducci Gramelot Ensemble: Cantador
The “Simone Guiducci Gramelot Ensemble” intermingle Italian folk-ish themes with generous doses of improvisation, modern jazz structures and well-orchestrated small group arrangements on this charming and thoroughly enjoyable effort titled, Cantador.

Led by guitarist/composer Simone Guiducci, the musicians pursue catchy melodies and gleefully romantic Italian style themes to coincide with harmonious interplay and sharp soloing. Guiducci is an ex-student of the legendary Mick Goodrick, which must have paid huge dividends given his fleet-fingered, sonorous lines and extraordinary capabilities as an agile rhythm guitarist. Yet the musician’s camaraderie and sense of oneness shines as accordionist Fausto Beccalossi, clarinet/bass clarinetist Achille Succi, bassist/cellist Salvatore Majore and drummer/percussionist *Roberto Dani round out this unique and rather modish group sound. On compositions such as “Danza Mantovana” and “Al Saltafos” the musicians turn in memorably melodic passages, crisp soloing, jubilant motifs and vibrant dialogue atop the often complex, yet toe-tapping rhythms. Here and throughout, the band is tight yet often maintain a lose vibe, witnessed on sprightly pieces such as, “L’alba del bambino (a Giorgio)” and “Soeh (Suite in tre movimenti)” while exchanging lofty unison choruses, along with pensive interludes that generally segue into momentous and albeit, cheerful sequences.

Overall, the band skillfully injects cross-cultural statements and fresh concepts into traditional formats as the music and notions exhibited on Cantador expounds upon the ever resourceful, non-complacent and seemingly restless Italian music scene. Recommended! - * * * *

Visit the “Felmay” website at: www.felmay.it or email: [email protected]

* See review of Roberto Dani’s fine solo release titled, Images in this month’s edition of “All About Jazz.com

Personnel

Simone Guiducci
guitar, acoustic

Album information

Title: Cantador | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Felmay

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.