Blewitt: Exploring New Boundaries

Formed with the intent of making a synthesis between classical music and jazz, Blewitt are an Italian trio, with Exploring New Boundaries being their debut album. That combination may have been their original intent, but along the way, they have added rock, avant-garde rhythms, jazz standards and strands of Mediterranean folk music to make an intriguing mix.

Blewitt consists of pianist Stefano Proietti, bassist Oscar Cherici and drummer Gian Marco De Nisi. All the band contributed to the compositions with ten original tracks: four from Proietti, three from Cherici and three involving the whole trio. They also have arrangements of two standards: Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and McCoy Tyner's "Passion Dance." They explore each track thoroughly, with the album lasting for nearly 80 minutes. The trio have been collaborating for three years. Cherici and De Nisi have released their own albums whilst Proietti has performed with a range of artists from Chris Botti to Simon le Bon.

The opening track, "Inner Struggle," is a Proietti composition. The classical influence is apparent in the early cascading piano phrases. The track ebbs and flows, often darting in new directions with fluid piano, lyrical bass passages and rock-style drumming. The narrative arc of "Tormenta" is well-crafted, integrating the improvisational abilities of each musician. Cherici's bass exhibits elegance and plaintiveness in the spaces as the tension of the storm builds and subsides.

"Red Sun" is one of the album highlights, successfully blending classical, jazz and rock. Proietti at his best explores melodic patterns and possibilities. The baroque piano of "Bach to the Future" entwines around the bass. The track moves into a more of a jazz-like structure as Cherici and De Nisi make interesting connections and combine well as the complexity and pace increases.

An entertaining version of "Footprints" is the first of the covers. Proietti treads a gentle line between classical and jazz piano to start. Cherici nimbly wraps the bass around the melody as the trio drives the pace in creative homage to Shorter. Tyner's "Passion Dance" is fast, fun, and for a band that like to explore every avenue at length, surprisingly over in 90 seconds.

Elsewhere, "Arcturus" offers a catchy melody, "Il Fuoco di Lauridsen" has soulful touches, and the North African feel of "Pace Nel Mediterraneo" builds from a melancholy classical piano to fiery dance rhythms. With complex passages and fusions from a variety of musical sources, the trio shows their synergy and collective virtuosity in an album full of ideas.

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