Jazz Articles

Zu: Igneo

by Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2002

Upon their first tour of the United States this power packed Italian band sojourned into a Chicago studio to record with saxophonist Ken Vandermark and trombonist Jeb Bishop. While modern jazz cellist Fred Lomberg-Holm adds another dimension to this quartet’s high octane melding of progressive rock, free jazz and more. The band’s previous two releases featured avant-guitarist Eugene Chadbourne amid a tour of Europe, yet this outing perhaps summarizes what the quartet is all about!

The group ...

Maurizio Rolli & A.M.P. Big Band: Moodswings - A Tribute To Jaco Pastorius

by Glenn Astarita
September 15, 2002

This isn't just another oblique or chops based attempt at paying homage to the late, great bassist Jaco Pastorius. Here, Italian acoustic-electric bassist, arranger Maurizio Rolli and his A.M.P. Big Band (along with some special guests), inject heartfelt imagery into the Pastorius songbook. With this release, Rolli focuses on Pastorius' compositional strengths. Rolli's vision provides additional proof to the validity of Pastorius' melodic gifts. Rolli, drummer Nicola Angelucci and bassist Michael Manring open the ...

Zu: Bromio

by Glenn Astarita
June 1, 2000

Released in 1999, prior to their – superfine - outing featuring American avant-garde guitarist Eugene Chadbourne titled, Th Zu Side Of The Chadbourne (see May ‘2000 AAJ reviews), Bromio presents a clear snapshot of this exhilarating and thoroughly hard-core modern-jazz quartet. Based in Italy, “Zu” have become a notoriously eye-popping, hair-raising band who have been thrilling audiences throughout Europe and thanks to word-of-mouth and extensive touring abroad, the band is presently enjoying an elevated degree of popularity.

With Bromio, the ...