Diana Torti: Fearless

Coming off of their 2023 collaboration, It's All We Have (Tambora Music), vocalist Diana Torti and guitarist Sabino de Bari are once again teaming up for Fearless, another showcase for Torti's ear-pleasing yet subtly adventurous approach to modern jazz. But the two are now complemented by bassist Andrea Colella and drummer Francesco de Rubeis, the rhythm tandem that last worked with de Bari on his excellent 2024 release, Ashanti (Self Produced). Together, the four bring an insouciant spirit to Torti's and de Bari's thoughtful compositions.

Torti tends to favor lilting pieces which proceed at an unhurried pace. In this regard, the snappy opener, "The Hawk's Hills," is a bit of an outlier, as Torti's brisk delivery readily evokes stirring aerial flights, aided by de Bari's lithesome solo—the first of the guitarist's many stimulating statements on the record. The relaxed feel of "Secret Places" is more typical of the album's mood, as Torti's winsome alto floats over the band's graceful, capacious support; Colella's melodicism shines here alongside De Rubeis' skilled brush work. The title track offers a similar restraint, with an additional air of mystery, as Torti's bold lyrical self-assertion contrasts sharply with de Bari's subdued reserve. Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," the album's lone cover tune, maintains the album's down-tempo mode, with the open, uncluttered feel of the track leaving room for the instrumentalists to contribute collectively over Torti's wordless vocal interlude.

The group tends to make the music sound almost effortless, perhaps lulling unfocused listeners who are not fully attuned to the artists' undeniable craft. But Torti's airy contemplation on "Montmartre Café" has an affecting poignancy that goes well beyond merely a comfortable listen, especially alongside the tuneful instincts of de Bari and Colella. Proof that a fine jazz album need not depend on ostentation, Fearless may most fully reveal its intrepid impulses in its unwavering dedication to quietly beautiful music, played with care and devotion.