Pericopes + 1: Good Morning World!

The press announcement accurately states: "Periscopes +1 is an Italian trio project with roots in European tradition, African American music, and improvisation, and an affinity for melody and compositional structure, mixed with other post-rock/prog/avant-garde/electronic influences." This is the band's fourth album, characterized by an ultramodern vibe.

The group's fourth album, Good Morning World, proves these sonic alchemists have not lost their taste for musical mayhem. The trio—Emi Vernizzi on saxophone and electronics, Claudio Vignali on piano and Fender Rhodes, and Ruben Bellavia on drums—continues to blur the lines between traditional jazz, electronic experimentation, and what might be transmissions from a particularly groovy alien civilization.

The album opens with "Logout," a track that struts in like a cat who knows where all the canaries are hidden, establishing haunting tonalities and misty spoken words. Elsewhere, Vernizzi delivers fiery outbursts and soulful whispers while Vignali's piano work adds layers of complexity that are both engaging and entertaining for listeners.

The album takes listeners on a journey through the minds of three talented musicians who never encountered a musical boundary they did not want to overcome. Tracks like "Cosmic Nirvana" demonstrate the band's ability to blend electronic sounds with acoustic instruments amidst an assortment of complex time signatures and forceful attacks, creating a soundscape that feels like the future having a passionate love affair with traditional jazz. Guest musicians such as violinist Anais Drago on "Cosmic Nirvana" and double bassist Rosa Brunello on "Assange" add further colors to this already kaleidoscopic palette.

One of the standout tracks, "The Dawn of Algo-Rhythm," highlights the band's shrewd approach to composition with all the subtlety of a jazz club in a particle accelerator. Vignali's piano creates a hypnotic dance, featuring more spoken word, while Bellavia's dynamic drumming maintains the energy at a near fever pitch. It perfectly exemplifies how Periscopes +1 can successfully integrate musical elements that seemingly should not belong together.

While not every experimental endeavor achieves its intended effect, the album's bold fusion of acoustic warmth and electronic shadings creates something novel in contemporary jazz. Like watching a master chef combine incompatible ingredients into a surprising delicacy, there is real joy in witnessing how these three musicians transform their diverse influences into coherent and compelling art.

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