Wasted Generation: Introducing Wasted Generation

The Italian group, Wasted Generation can often be found playing the clubs and festivals around Rome. They usually play straight ahead jazz but their first album Introducing Wasted Generation, reveals a totally different side of their character. This album shows a young band focused on free contemporary jazz, melodic explorations and an avant-garde approach to improvisation.

The quintet features Iacopo Teolis on trumpet and flugelhorn, alto saxophonist Gabriel Marciano, pianist Vittorio Solimene, double bassist Giulio Scianatico and drummer Cesare Mangiocavallo. The writing credits for all ten tracks are shared around the band. The album was produced by the American bassist, Joe Sanders, who has played alongside Kendrick Scott, Gerald Clayton, Charles Lloyd and Ben Wendel.

The opening track "Omron," written by Marciano, sets the sonic landscape, starting with furious drums followed by a plaintive statement from the horns before they start a conversation. It is clear that there is little intention of adhering to fixed harmonic structures but Scianatico's bass and Mangiocavallo's drums anchor the track and bond the elements together. "Mooncake," written by Solimene and Teolis, features Solimene's piano hook over Marciano's sax interjections with solos from both players before the track reaches a resolution from the horn players. Mangiocavallo's drums are again inventive, as they are throughout this set.

"Timothy Treadwell," written by Mangiocavallo, is a slower track with emotional playing from Teolis before a freer injection from Marciano. Teolis' "Ce Stà er Tramonto" is one of the album's highlights; this slowly unfurling track features Teolis and Marciano delivering strong interplay and well-conceived breaks, supported by walking bass from Scianatico. Elsewhere, Scianatico's "VU" provides improvisations from bass, trumpet and sax, "Veleno per Tori" features thrusting bass and drums underpinning brief exploratory piano darts, and the album concludes with the horn players on top form on Teolis' "Father's Day."

The group offers plenty of spirit and vitality, distinctive contributions and inventive solos. They handle lead and improvisation roles well, knowing when a facet of the composition needs them to harmonise and when a freer course is open to them. Sanders seems to have been a key influence. The improvisations can occasionally be exacting, but those who prefer their jazz mainly ambitious and contemporary with soulful touches may find much to admire here.