Italian multi-woodwind ace Francesco Bearzatti mans the helm on Virus, along with
superb support
from French organist/electronics whiz Emmanuel Bex and famed drummer Aldo Romano. Whereas, special
guest artists chip in on certain tracks.
Bearzatti undoes conventional organ-based trio fare with
some cleverly devised arrangements. Sure, they swing and churn out a few stifling bop burners, but
the group reaps strong dividends via glowing sonic characteristics and avant-garde based shifts in
direction. Bex injects subtle EFX to coincide with a series of chirpy
choruses, hard-hitting jazz-funk escapades and much more. Bearzatti’s deft clarinet work on “Hey”
is nicely augmented by Bex’s implementation of a digital clarinet keyboard patch. It’s easily
discernible that the band is having a blast, as they frequently alter previously rendered motifs via
cunning improvisational opuses, in concert with a silky smooth edge.
Trombonist Mauro Ottolini’s blustery solo on the bop cooker “Cattivik” only adds to this band’s
spacey, musical architectures -- featuring weighty jazz grooves, and a sometimes punk-ish
demeanor. They also intermix dreamy soundscapes and blues-drenched licks into the production.
A wonderfully inventive outing indeed! Zestfully recommended…
*This enhanced CD also contains a ROM track with videos and photos.
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~ Glenn Astarita
