Matteo Pastorino: Lightside

Once again A.MA Records hits the jackpot with a Matteo Pastorino album, Lightside, which it released in March 2025. Whether a novice or seasoned musician, the Italian label has a knack for promoting engaging musical gems. Lightside showcases Pastorino's talent as a clarinetist and composer. The album offers listeners an intimate journey through compositions inspired by personal and cultural themes. Pastorino is joined by Domenico Sanna on piano, Dario Deidda on bass and Armando Luongo on drums. Each musician contributes to a rich sonic tapestry where Mediterranean influences and European sensibilities combine, showcasing Pastorino as a well-established figure in contemporary jazz.

From the opening intimacy of "Gorée," listeners know they are in for a delightful ride. This first track is an emotional piece, inspired by a kora melody Pastorino heard on the Senegalese island of Gorée, a place renowned for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The track opens with a contemplative melody as Pastorino's clarinet offers a deep, mournful tone, evoking a sense of longing and remembrance. As the piece progresses, Pastorino builds the melody with increased intensity, adding a feeling of urgency. By introducing a cultural narrative into his composition, Pastorino reveals his impressive musical craftsmanship.

Next comes the title track, "Lightside," which offers rich harmonic textures and lyrical phrasing. From the start, the piece exudes warmth through a motif that feels both introspective and uplifting. Pastorino's tone is fluid and evokes a sense of optimism. This is supported by Sanna's piano as it develops the contrast of light emerging from darkness. Deidda's bass is engaging, complementing Pastorino's airiness. Meanwhile, Luongo's drumming is restrained but nuanced, adding colour to the piece instead of being a driving force.

"Les Années Folles" is a vibrant tune filled with technical brilliance from all the members. It refers to the creative energy predominant in the 1920s. Pastorino's bass clarinet takes center stage, delivering a playful melody, whilst the rhythm section adorns it with a propulsive groove. Sanna's playing, which is always captivating, adds depth to the composition as it shifts between classical refinement and modern jazz fluidity. The tune's success is largely achieved by the ensemble as they build momentum through what appears as improvisational energy that comes out as well-crafted elegance.

"Tigre" immediately conveys an energy that is both graceful yet commanding, just like the animal it alludes to. Pastorino's clarinet prowls through a musical landscape with assured confidence while Sanna's piano adds a feeling of mystery. The rhythm section maintains a pulsing undercurrent, creating a hypnotic feel. The whole piece shifts between breathy phrases and more assertive lines, keeping the tension up.

"Coming Back" is another vibrant, swinging piece that contrasts nicely with the more introspective pieces on the album. It keeps in with the dynamics of traditional jazz, such as rhythmic subtlety and groove. Each instrument adds another layer to the piece, giving it an uplifting energy and effortless swing, a reminder of jazz's joyful essence. The band's natural understanding of each other ensures that even the solos unfold freely, propelling the piece forward.

In contrast, "Elvira" is perhaps the most intimate and heartfelt composition on the album. As a dedication to Pastorino's daughter, the tune radiates warmth and tenderness. The melody unfolds with natural ease while Sanna's piano remains deeply expressive. Deidda and Luongo both play with remarkable sensitivity and the interplay between the musicians remains delicate, as if to preserve the beauty expressed in a father's love for his daughter. Elvira is undoubtedly a touching track and a powerful expression of love.

The album concludes with "Marzo," a composition that captures the essence of early spring and the idea of renewal. Pastorino displays a melodic sensibility and succeeds in evoking mood through nuanced phrasing and harmonic subtlety. His warm timbre resonates against the soft playing of Sanna's piano. In addition, Deidda's bass work comes in as a lyrical counterpoint to Pastorino's phrases and Luongo's brushstrokes create movement without increasing the tempo too forcefully. Marzo depicts a feeling of transition and quiet awakening.

Lightside offers a journey through different emotional landscapes. The sonic tapestry that the ensemble members sewed together is impressive, especially when hearing how all the members come together so naturally. The tracks linger on after they end and Pastorino can craft music that feels both structured and free-flowing. His musical exploration blends intricate rhythms with lyricism, creating emotional depth that is compelling and makes you want to listen to the tracks all over again.

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