Available in: LP, CD, HD FILE 88.2kHz • 32bit

Traces

1. Invitation (Bronislau Kaper)

2. Song for Peace (Alessandro Bianchini)

3. Mud for Bud (Alessandro Bianchini)

4. 10 / 5 (Alessandro Bianchini)

5. Alice (Alessandro Bianchini)

6. Bud Powell (Chick Corea)

7. Thank you Armando (Alessandro Bianchini)

Line up

Alessandro Bianchini | vibraphone - marimba
Simone Brilli | drums
Marco Micheli | double bass

Special guest vocals: Beatrice Sberna (10/5; Alice)

Description

10/5 is the result of a fusion of different genres and styles, reflecting Alessandro Bianchini's musical education: from the academicism typical of classical music to improvisation, through the sounds of traditional jazz.

These elements indelibly mark the vibraphonist's aesthetics and musical language, which are then embellished by a constant and meticulous search for detail, allowing his compositions to be identified.
When asked about his music he says:
The choice of tonal qualities of the mallets, which vary depending on the song, the idea of ​​combining vibraphone and marimba, and the almost obsessive emphasis on dynamics are the elements that, in my opinion, give the album a jazzy sound, with prominent notes and recognizable, deliberately refined elements. Another aspect that is certainly evident to listeners is the presence of an element that I personally always put first and which is the basis of improvisation and interplay: timing. It is precisely timing that allowed me to create a natural sound, an almost instinctive connection with the other members of the group: Marco Micheli on double bass and Simone Brilli on drums.
Short description of the songs:
"Invitation" The choice to arrange this jazz standard stems from the desire to incorporate rhythmic and timbral elements from one of the most significant pieces in the bop repertoire. This standard was composed by Kaper, a prominent composer of the 20th-century American jazz scene. Despite being a piece from 1952, it immediately struck me as very contemporary, almost as if it were a contemporary composition. The arrangement creates free-flowing moments in the intro and outro, encouraging musical exploration and lending spontaneity to improvisation and the interaction between the trio's musicians. From the first notes, one immediately senses the influences of percussive, almost prehistoric, tribal music.

"Song for Peace," a classic jazz waltz, inspired by the sounds and interplay typical of Bill Evans's first piano trio, with Scott LaFaro on double bass and Paul Motian on drums. Furthermore, the piece's melodic lines are undoubtedly influenced by another composer who has had and continues to have a profound impact on my musical aesthetic: Johann Sebastian Bach.

"Mud for Bud" is essentially a tribute to the two musicians who shaped my studies of bebop repertoire: Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. The former is a saxophonist, the latter a pianist. The harmonic structure and form are nothing more than a parody of "Donna Lee," one of the manifesto songs of the bebop era, with a deliberate departure from the original tone. "Mud for Bud" is in Eb Maj, unlike Donna Lee, which is in Ab Maj. The final vibraphone solo refrain quotes part of the original theme of the song made famous by Bird.

"10/5" is the title track of the album, drawing inspiration from the repertoire of Egberto Gismonti, a composer I consider a source of inspiration. The title comes from the meter that guides the music, meaning it can be counted and interpreted in either 5/4 or 10/16 time. In my opinion, it's the most intense composition, being the result of a melodic line created on a 5/4 clave, which is ever-present as a groove in the development of both the themes and the improvisation. Compositionally, section A differs from section B only in a change in harmonic rhythm, while maintaining the thematic line unchanged.

"Alice," dedicated to my wife, is a traditional ballad with hints of post-bop tension. This song features the extraordinary vocals of Beatrice Sberna.

"Bud Powell" This jazz standard captures two of my great passions: the bebop language and the compositional mastery of one of my favorite contemporary jazz pianists, Chick Corea. The song is dedicated to Bud Powell, an infinite artist for me, and is included on an album entirely dedicated to the pianist who passed away prematurely, entitled "Remember Bud Powell" (Stretch label 1997).

"Grazie Armando" is a piece conceived and dedicated to Chick Corea and is imbued with the timbres and grooves typical of the Latin jazz repertoire. The composition's dynamism is created by the alternating themes of the two instruments: the vibraphone and the marimba. The introduction is played on the vibraphone, then switches to the marimba, where the theme is played in the instrument's lowest register. This creates a stark contrast with the vibraphone solo, making for a fluid yet dynamic listening experience.

Five of the seven tracks were composed and arranged by Alessandro Bianchini, while the first and sixth tracks on the album are two jazz standards rearranged for the trio formation: vibraphone/marimba, double bass and drums.

The album is strongly influenced by the typical stylistic features of traditional jazz and is the result of a musical language and aesthetic that the vibraphonist has developed over the years.