Zu: Igneo

The group and Lomberg-Holm come at you with a vengeance during the opener “The Elusive Character of Victory.” Here and throughout, the musicians seemingly, deploy and conquer a plethora of difficult time change to coincide with their succinctly stated choruses and pungently devised frameworks. Electric bassist Massimo Pupilla’s thick metallic tone and fluent lines provides an ominous bottom to complement drummer Jacopo Battaglia’s disciplined polyrhythmic attack. At times, they spark notions of a 70s King Crimson fusing free jazz with thrash rock to coincide with the windswept intensity of a tornado. Saxophonist Luca Tommaso Mai serves as a catalyst of sorts, via his propulsive attack and penchant for injecting sub-themes and rhythmic augmentations into these variegated scenarios. Vandermark and Bishop add fuel to the fire on “Tikkun Olam.” Whereas the band engages a rumbling and tumbling approach, complete with free-blowing mayhem and abrupt breaks in the action, during “Muri Torto.”

They’ve already made a name for themselves over in Europe, thanks to a robust touring schedule and guest appearances with household jazz names. As the group stands on its own in a rather prolific way! (To whom it may concern, this outfit warrants much more exposure here in the States.)...Strongly recommended

Wide Records

General information: [email protected]

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