Review: Milos Colovic - To The Beat of My Footsteps (A.MA Records)

As long term fans of Eastern European jazz, we are happy to hear the Milos Colovic has moved 'To The Beat Of My Footsteps' - in the first person of course.

So more jazz from the Serbian edge from Milos Colovic following on from Katarina Kochetova (also on A.MA Records - see review HERE) but this time as a trio unit ('Losing Count', 'Shapeshifter' and 'Solitude') and sextet ('Cimmeria', 'Monsieur de Bordeaux', 'The Dreadful Moths' and the title track) and pulling out influences from 'traditonal' jazz man like Bobby Timmons and Horace Sliver together with rock/grunge like Queens Of The Stone Age (spot the t-shirt on the album cover) .

Nothing new in this type of cross-genre appreciation of course, especially in the trio format, like The Bad Plus, BadBadNotGood, Jazz Sabbaath, but not so much in a sextet format (unless it's big band covers of Nivirana or Red Hot Chillie Peppers and the llike) and perhaps it's because Milos is the bass player and leader that it works so well on the album.  

People that will have seen me of late won't realise how sharp I used to dress (think cover photos Kent's 'Mod Jazz' compilation series) and 'Monsieur de Bordeaux' fits right into that 'Take Five', 'Sidewinder' groove and is heavy on the 60s struttin' on the left bank of the River Garonne.

The title track is the QOTSA inspired track (combined with Paul Motion; any coincidence that Milos played in fellow Serbian Max Kochetov's band and Katarina's album is entitled 'Beyond Motion'?) and it starts Motion like and descends into a mass horn blowing. 

All tracks are written by Miloš Čolović, except Duke Ellington's 'Solitude', and whilst somewhat different to the last album on the label, Bosque Sound Community's '12 Angry Mushrooms (see review HERE) it'll be no less attractive to those DJ types like Peterson, Beadle, Parnell, Forge et al.will particularly enoy the 'Monsieur de Bordeaux' track for it's dancefloor swing dynamic.

Artist: Milos Colovic

Title: To The Beat of My Footsteps

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : AMCO4

Format: CD / Digital / Bandcamp (Pre-Order on Bandcamp Friday, 31st January)

PS. And recently released after 30 years Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Paul Motion 'Live' on ECM.

Review: Bosque Sound Community – 12 Angry Mushrooms (A.MA Edizioni, A.MA Records)

Definitely time for some jazz fusion from Italy and the combo calling themselves the Bosque Sound Community ride the Serbian wave on the SI-Jazz mushroom hunt.

The band/group/community were formed in Belgrade in 2015 and it's definitely different to the label's last release,  Fabio Tullio's 'Entanglements' (see review HERE) judging by the first track 'San Franciso Waltz' as not only is it not an angry mushroom, it's 15 minutes of solid jazz fusion that owes much to the greats like Chick Corea, Jaco Pistorious and Wayne Shorter in a post Weather Report vane, it's got great solos, particularly the keys, soprano sax and the flute.

For '12 Angry Mushroom' it's but one of 5 tracks, 'Twelve Angry Mushrooms' Parts 1 & 2 (that's got the added bonus of some deep strings, 'Please One For Goodbye' (the calming/mournful one) and 'Arsen D' (the heavily percussive one with snake charmer appeal for those that like to express themselves on the jazz-fusion dancefloor; did someone say, "Jaco / Weather Report"?).

All tracks are composed by founder/leader/bassist Milos Bosnic with Stevan Milijanovic (piano/keys), Aleksa Milijanovic (drums), Aleksander Radulovic (percussion), Aleksandar Petkovic (soprano sax) and flautist Milena Jancuric (flute).

It's a great album and those DJ types like Peterson, Beadle, Parnell will be on this and I think Patrick Forge will particularly enoy the title track for it's intensity.

Good to see that the home of Red Star are getting support from Italy

Artist: Bosque Sound Community 

Title: 12 Angry Mushrooms 

Release date: 20th December, 2024 (Pre-Order on Bandcamp Friday, 13th December)

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Fabio Tullio - Entanglements (A.MA Records)

Bandcamp Friday means you can pre-order Fabio Tullio's 'Entanglements' from A.MA Records for it's 1st of November release date.

When I first heard the opening and closing track of Fabio Tullio's album 'Entanglements', I was immediately reminded of in Norma Winstones' set at We Out Here Festival back in August; not only for Marta Capponi's vocals, but with Norma's backing band was Sam 'Floating Points' Shepherd!

And what Fabio has done here has gone his 70s jazz-fusion influences tuned into a larger band/arrangement that feel quite effortless; especially the 7 minutes of 'Untitled Spirtual (Intro - Journey - Dilemma).  

There's also the impressive 'The Balance' the grows into a bit of a blow out vs. Gwis' piano that'll work for fusion fans especially with the guitar comes in whilst the track 'The Return Of Mr. Crohn' is the obvious choice for fusion noodling - a tad Sonny Fortune vs. Mahavishnu circa Jean-Luc Ponty?  

Italy's A.MA Records are pretty jazz eclectic so this another one not to miss out on as I'm sure that there's more entanglements on the horizon.

Fabio Tullio: Tenor / Alto / Soprano Saxophones / Synth 

Alessandro Gwis: Piano / Electric Piano / Keyboards 

Andrea Colella: Double Bass / Electric Bass 

Massimiliano De Lucia: Drums

Andrea Gomellini: Guitar 

Marta Capponi: Vocals 

Valerio Vantaggio: Drums 

Claudio Corvini: Trumpet / Fluglehorn

Artist: Fabio Tullio

Title: Entanglements

Release date: 1st of November, 2024 (Pre-Order on Bandcamp Friday, 25th October)

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Egidio Rondinone - OOPARTS (Out of Plan Artists) (A.MA Records)

'Out of Plan Artists' sounds like A.MA Records' equivalent of the NFL's annual player draft lottery drama, but no - it's better than that!

If you can imagine DJ Shadow becoming a jazz drummer who has played with the Paolo Achenza Trio (which included US jazz-innovator Greg Osby at one point) turning his beat-matching/sampling skills on the A.MA Records back catologue with a jazz band to boot.

If that sounds contrived, the actual album definitely is not as 'Supa Dupa' is just that melange of techno frieght train in a deep soul house wagon ('One For Little P' by Paolo Achenza 4), the BRUK-esque Zappa/MOI, 'Gold Diggers' ('Sirena' by Walk Tall) with killer trombone by Gianluca Petrella (credits include Mario Biondi, Nicola Conti, Enrico Rava and 100s more).and 'Maha  Seenthy' ('Solo Ida' by Enrico Le Noici, who we know from 'Electric Nuts - see review HERE).

These tracks are going to be picked up by all the best DJs from Rimini to Margate to Melbourne to Miami; totally worldwide.

Very different to the label's last release, Katarina Kochetova's 'Beyond Motion' (see review HERE) but this is out of plan (whatever than means).

Artist: Egidio Rondinone 

Title: OOPARTS (Out of Plan Artists)

Release date: 20th September, 2024 

Label : A.MA Edizioni / A.MA Records

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Katarina Kochetova - Beyond Motion (A.MA Records)

Katarina Kochetov is part of the Serbian jazz wave that A.MA Records have picked up on and 'Beyond Motion' is her debut album release.

A.MA Edizioni (out of Italy you know) follow up their last release Shijuka Quintet's 'Octave Up' (see review HERE; more Serbian connections) with a line-up that includes Hugo Lof (Sweden) on double bass and Matheus Jardim (Brazil) on drums.

Four of the ten tracks are as a quartet with Jonander Cruz (Brazil) on alto sax ('UntiEled#4' and the title track) and Jure Pukl (Slovinia) also on sax ('Hemma' and 'Eternal Goodbyes') but the star of the show is Katarina as a 23 year old composer, pianist, bandleader this is a more than impressive debut.

Her style is a combination of classical training together with flavas of Monk, Tyner, Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus) and it has caught the ear of Jazz FM's Ruth Fisher (Full Circle) as she's had the first play of 'Directions (In Time)'.  I'd have gone for the obvious 'NTYTATATST (Things We Say) or even 'Holmstock'.

The album really has a lovely feel of effortless flow; like water - or you could say it's 'Beyond Motion' but it's definetly full of (emotion) jazz

P.S. Great cover artwork to go with this one and it's also by Ms. Kochetova!

Artist: Katarina Kochetova 

Title: Beyond Motion

Release date: 21st June, 2024 

Label : A.MA Edizioni / A.MA Records

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Katarina Kochetova - Piano 

Hugo Lof – Double Bass 

Matheus Jardim - Drums 

Joander Cruz - Alto Saxophone (Tracks 3,8) 

Jure Pukl – Alto Saxophone (Track 4,9)

All music by Katarina Kochetova ©&℗ A.MA Edizioni

Review: Shijuka Quintet - Octave Up (A.MA Records)

'Octave Up' and over with the Shijuka Quintet on A.MA Records.

If proof be needed, Two Things Of Gold's album (see review HERE) on A.MA Records  showed that the label was open minded when it comes to core-jazz basics.   And in eight traks by Aleksandar Jovanović, the pianist, composer, arranger of his Serbian quintet, Shijuka (as he's known to his mates) has gone up that Octave of a higher ground.

The big track is 'What If...' which puts a trumpet and sax on a Belgrade bound BadBadNotGood boat for a traditional wedding.

Whilst the opener, 'Five Or None' is strong on the classical jazz sound, Jovanović's piano style has been compared to Ahmad Jamal (on 'Impure Blue') and we know Radivojevic and Obradovic's front line partnership on Irina Pavlović's 'The Soulful Heritage' album (see review HERE) and on the mellow track, 'Blue Danube' on this album.

Appropriately, a track called 'Missing Part' (the longest track on the album) is composed with a wandering noodle element which we all need in our lives but they seem to have really got it together on 'Impure Blue' and the swing of 'Uneven Swing'.

For fans of Balkan Jazz (if you need some catching up, check fellow pianist / composer Janko Nilović, Dusko Goykovich or indeed anything on Željko Kerleta magical Cosmic Sounds label) this is the update of their jazz in a quintet form

Artist: Shijuka Quintet 

Title: Octave Up

Release date: 3rd May, 2024 

Label : A.MA Edizioni / A.MA Records

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Aleksandar Jovanovic Shljuka - Piano
Ivan Radivojevic - Trumpet
Rastko Obradovic - Alto & Soprano Saxophone
Milan Pavkovic - Double Bass
Aleksandar Cvetkovic - Drums

Review: Bruno Montrone Trio - Unaware Beauty (A.MA Records)

A.MA Records search for 'Unaware Beauty' has paid off with the unveiling of the Bruno Montrone Trio's new album.

Not strictly a trio album as Bruno Montrone (Piano), Giulio Scianatico (Double Bass) and Joe Farnsworth (Drums) are joined by special guests Serena Grittani on vocals and the alto sax of Sarah Hanahan on 4 (two each) of the nine tracks.

You may recognise Farnsworth's name as the New Yorker has played with all the main jazz cats from Horace Silver, Lou Donaldson, McCoy Tyner and Pharaoh Sanders (including a 2003 recording session of the all-time classic, 'The Creator Has A Master Plan') and many more.  And that links in nicely with the opening track as 'Edward Lee' is a heavy swing bopper with Hanahan blowing for all her worth and Bruno's getting some McCoy Tyner style bang for his buck. In trait hie repeats on 'The Hodgepodge' (a word you don't hear that much these days and a great title) and Farnsworth showing off his 'live' skills (and obligatory solo on 'Bau Blues').

Variety you ask? Well, the downtempo soothing of the title track has the gentle breeze of Serena's whispy vocals to accompany the trio al la ECM before a climax ending with the other track, 'When Or Where' being the total contrast of a late nite standard.

Is this varied enough for a 'trio' jazz album?  No, what we need is th piano lounge cool bossa of 'Riflessiva' that's over 6 minutes long as al a Silver-esque does Charity Shop Classics (and that''s not a bad thing as an unaware beauty of jazz trio - keep you're eyes open for some Monty Alexandere Trio I say) and another fantastic ending. 

And you in the Backroom!  Hanahan can seriously blow as if the creator has a master plan and has gone out to lunch at the same time! Forge, Curtis, Peterson, Beadle and everyone else, you need to get  'Phrygian Sound Connotation' as the best 8 minutes you're likely to hear this year.

Parts of this album could happily sit next Jamie Cullum, spiritual jazz or A.MA Records' last release, Two Things Of Gold' (see review HERE) along with some straight edged jazz which all adds up to a great Good Friday freeling on this release day. 

Spring seems to have finally sprung with this release as 'Wide Awake' affirms. Thbese guys are bound to be at a jazz festival in the summer and you'd bonkers to miss 'em or not get this beauty of an album now you're fully aware of how good it is.

P.S. Many thanks to DJ Bob Hill again and hope he''s enjoying his sabbatical from Illicit Grooves radio show.

Artist: Bruno Montrone Trio

Title: Unaware Beauty

Release date: 29th March, 2024

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Irena Pavlović - The Soulful Heritage (A.MA Records)

From Serbia via Italy, pianist/composer/arranger Irina Pavlovic debut's her album 'The Soulful Heritage' [and don't be put off by the cover]. 

The soul heritage she bases this album of soul-jazz a la 60s French new wave/jazz quartet post-bop swing; don't be misled by the soft focus of the album cover.

Led by Irina (piano), the nine tracks mostly revolve around her and Ivan Radivojevic (trumpet,flugelhorn) Rastko Obradovic (tenor saxophone), Milan Nikolic (bass) and Dusan Novakov (drums)/Luka Jovicic (drums on track 1 and 5).

The title track features U.S. vocalist Dean Bowman (with some Dwight Trible style exercises; big fans of Dwight - see review HERE) and also the 'bone work of Corey Wilcox (and again, Cory turns up couple more tracks to feature) for a spell-binding 6 minutes that's equally at home with the swingin' Latin-bop of 'Arriba, Arriba' (love this one).

We said with the recent A.MA release by Two Pots Of Gold (see review of 'Two Pots Of Gold' HERE) that they are on a departure from previous "straight jazz" and this album does seem to edge to some of the previous releases by the Schema label.

And it's not just Schema, but let's just pick on their 'house' trombonist, Gianluca Petrella as he set a tone in Italy and now Mr. Wilcox, who might only appear on 3 tracks, is definitely a star of this show with 'Podednik (The Victor Of Belgrade)' and the bangin' avant-blues march of 'Reviving Blast'.

There's big respect to Blue Note/Pretege/Riverside et al especially as Novalov's drums can swing-bop-simmer; there's a couple of slower tracks, like the rive gauche of 'My Return' that Irina plays the electric piano and Obradovic and Radivojevic get a chance to have a workout.

Nikolic's bass also gets to feature on the tender duet with Irena 'My Tree' and featured on 'Look Above' and then there's Irina's soft to heavy hands on the piano for the powerful 'Dawn In The Warfield'.

Back on the album cover; it's a shame that they couldn't do a Yusef Lateef syled 'Jazz For The Thinker' cover as the Podednik is a war monument statue in Belgrade; and as that's such a great track.

But that'll be my minute gripe as this album is much more than a soul-jazz tribute and whilst Irena is the leader, I hope that the core of this group is able to keep together as they clearly work so well together and support each other.

Many thanks again to DJ Bob Hill of the Return Of The Illicit Groove for keeping us up to date with all things jazzy/acid jazz.  

PS. Yusef Lateef's album, 'Jazz For The Thinker' is the hard bop/modal classic from 1957 featuring  Lateef on tenor and flute, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Hugh Lawson piano, Ernie Farrow bass, and Louis Hayes drums.

Artist: Irena Pavlović

Title: The Soulful Heritage

Release date: 24th November, 2023

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Antonio Trinchera - Bug Night (Elbert Phillips "Tryppy Tribute Remix") (A.MA Reforged)

We'll, you might say, "Hello, here's two things of gold" when it comes to the lastest release by Antonio Trichera on A.MA Records.

But don't confuse the current 'Most Popular' review of the label's album by Two Things Of Gold (see review HERE) which this re-visit to one of the most popular tracks on Trinchera's 'Fauves' album that came out in just over a year ago.

Chicago's Elbert certainly has his finger on the jazz-funk dancefloor as 'Bug Night' has a Lonnie Liston Liston Smith/Deodato-esque groove infused into it with additonal percussion (Tom Laroye), synth and bass boogie (Terrence 'Slim' Holmes) to go the extra "Tryppy" space princess mile; just compare it with the equally jazz-funky orginal that's included with the release.

Don't you just love the artwork and don't forget, this is the second of Elbert's remixes from the album following the superb 'The Tractor And The Child' (see review HERE). 

Many thanks to once more to DJ Bob Hill (BBE, TWR, ReddSugarBlack Creative) for championing these releases.

Artist: Antonio Trinchera

Title: Bug Night (Elbert Phillips "Tryppy Tribute Remix") 

Release date: 26th October, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : A.MA Reforged 003 / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Two Things Of Gold - Two Things Of Gold (A.MA Records)

Two Things Of Gold are a mother and son duo o Francesca Sortino and Diego Lombardo and it's more than a big pot from Rome.

In a departure from the straight jazz that A.MA Records are known for (like Enrico Bracco, Antonio Trinchero, Enrico Le Noci, Pippo D'Ambrosio, Opus Trio, Davide Peluso Quartet  (not withstanding the remixes by Chicago's Elbert Phillips), Two Things Of Gold (let's say TTOG) are on the jazz end of beats n' Baleraics which maintains through this 14 track album.

You get a little bit of rap ('FIne', 'Where Flamingos Fly', 'You Go To My Head') but it's the whole vibe of "summer gentleness" that the band perfectly achieve; being Francesca (Vocals), Diego (beat and clarinet) with Roberto Rossi (horns), Alessandro Maiorino (bass), Alberto Parmegiani (guitar), Mauro Beggio (drums) and at times featuring Franco Piana (flugelhorn), Francesco Lento (trumpet), Sofia Ara (flute), Fabio Tullio (saxophone) and Pierpaolo Bisogno (vibraphone; 'Con Alma' and 'Wind Blows' are great!).

Francesco steals the show a couple of times, notably 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' and 'Malachi',  but the single 'Rooms To Go' (and the next one, 'Wind Blows'?) are natural highlights (as is the afro-jazz centric 'Noru') and together with the 'band' tracks, like 'Nowadays', 'Con Alma', 'Lover' and 'Much Love To Earthward' work the best; perhaps that should be 'jazz-beat band' as, dare I say, Two Things Of Gold are a little Futuristica Music at times (wonder what Peter Franks would say about that?), a little bit early Cinematic Orchestra and equally, that other great Italian label that has produced such fantastic, nu-jazz, soul, funk, jazz, downtemp, Afro, Latin and more, Schema Records. 

That said, the remix potential for a Reel People style 'Soulful Deep & Dope Ibiza' compilation is massive, (are you ready Elbert?) but for now, lets enjoy Two Things Of Gold as it is - trust me, it sounds better on every listen.

And it's been a really strong week for this kinda of laid-back soul-jazz beats; the more 'world' album by Eric Hilton with Natalia Clavier, 'Corazón Kintsugi' also being released (see review HERE) so there's only one thing to do, get both!

Artist: Two Things Of Gold 

Title: Two Things Of Gold 

Release date: 29th September, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Artist: Two Things Of Gold

Title: Two Things Of Gold

Release date: 29th September, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Opus Trio - In Studio (A.MA Records)

Those that have sharp eyes and ears will have heard the news that Roy Ayers is on his last ever tour (he must have done one for every year, excluding Covid, for 40 years at least!) so one way you could hear "him" is by such "reimaginings" of tracks of his like the one here by the Opus Trio as they cover Roy's 'Fire Weaver' with some serious swagger funk.

But this is not a one track album as the trio of Ralph Moore (ts), Giuseppe Bassi (db) and Anthony Pinciotti (d) 'developed' after being put together for a tour of Italy by manager Nico Scotti and then realised that they have got something special on their hands.

There's eight tracks in total on the album and check the swing on 'Rafaele', the J-jazzy 'Anthony's Dilema' (one for the deep dancers) or 'Shoki Blues' and the only other cover version on the album, Lee Morgan's meandering 'Ceora'.

These guys have worked with nearly as many people as Roy Ayers has played gigs; can you imagine the learning curve playing with Horace Silver, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Gene Harris, Pat Metheny, Jeremy Steig, Randy Brecker, Gary Bartz? And they're just the ones that have appeared on Blue Note (mostly)!

The label seems to have got into a swing (no pun etc) with the artwork too after their last album, 'Electric Nuts' by Enrico Le Noci (see review HERE) so all they need now is a big summer festival?

Artist: Opus Trio

Title: In Studio

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Enrico Le Noci - Electric Nuts (A. MA Records)

We're all a little bit nuts and this trio are electric!

A bit different for A. MA Records of late as it's an album by a jazz trio of Enrico Le Noci (guitar),  Matthijs Geerts (keybords/electric piano) and Egidio Gentile (drums)

The eight track album includes covers of classic 60s tunes 'Maiden Voyage' (Herbie Hancock) and 'Voodoo Child' (Jimi Hendrix Experience) with Freddie Hubbard's 'Sky Dive' (1972).

The original of 'Sky Dive' had an all-star CTI line up with George Benson on electric guitar before he achieved his international star status but it's easy to see where Enrico got some of his style from.

All the other tracks are Le Noci compositions with 'Eyes To See' (Geets being very Herbie) and the uptempo jazz dance shuffler, 'In The House' that's more Larry Coreyell fusion.

And in that classic US Pat Metheny downtempo groove, you'll find 'Nuts' (Ed. is that half a title track?) with guitar followed by synth noodling with modern "Hoxton" drumming and you're expecting/waiting for a Mahavisnu Orchestra explosion (which would have been a great Part 2) which doesn't arrive. But then it really works on 'Fantasia' in a growling Herbie-McLauglin way but why in two short parts and not too long tracks in their own rights?

With that said and you might says this is 'old school', they definitely find their own feet with 'CYSTE (Can You See The End)' (has someone been influenced by Thundercat?) and 'In The House', talking of feet, this one will move feet and turn heads.

The album ends with the three previously mentioned cover versions which are clearly much loved and revered by the band even though you've not heard any of these tracks like this before; 'Maiden Voyage' and 'Sky Dive' are going huge at the 'One O'clock Club' with the jazzheads.

Why Hendrix's track is 'Voodoo Chile' on all the label's is one for your own Google searches but getting back to 'Electric Nuts', that's an experience you won't want to miss.

Artist: Enrico Le Noci

Title: Electric Nuts

Release date: 28th April, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Pippo D'Ambrosio - Beyond The Sky (A.MA Records)

I'm told 2023 has lots of significant astronomical events for us, including solar eclipses, meteor showers, a bright comet passing the Earth and many more but here at YATM, we're looking at 'Beyond The Sky' by Italian drummer/percussionist, Pippo D'Ambrosio.

Pippo has appeared on many albums but this is his follow up to his 'A Peaceful Place' (2020) album and it's also based on a concept, this time inspired by man's relationship with the greater Universe.

But don't exect any Sun Ra 'out there' jazz, although ('Andromeda' does go a bit synthy spacey) as this is a generally laid back jazz album with strong modern influences with elements of fusion and broken beat.

Whilst D'Ambrosio is the leader, this is not all drums to the fore (but watch out for 'Halle Bop' that has a brilliant intro) as he's joined in the band by Eugenio Macchia (Piano / Electric Piano / Synthesizer), Gaetano Partipilo (Alto Saxophone) and Giorgio Vendola (Double Bass).  In fact, the opening track 'Milky Way' sets the tone in a gentle magnetude that defines space.  

Tracks like 'Milky Way' and 'Sirio' stand out where Macchia and Gaetano make the set sound like a simple Weather Report (Ed. I see what I did there?) but where it works best is tracks like 'Aquarius' and 'Hydra' where everyone contributes to make the total more than the sum of the parts. 

That said, 'Cassiopea' (nothing to do with the 70s jazz funk band 'Casiopea' from Japan) and 'Alioth' are the two longest tracks and both 'explore' the jazzways in a deep way; in fact, 'Cassiopea' has got at touch of the We Jazz vs. Herbie Hancock vs. reggae going on and with that bassline/synths and soul organ, I wonder if the Elber Phillips is thinking of a remix at the reforge?

There's no obvious 'big bang' track here (apart from the brilliant 'Cassipea') so it's a bit different from other releases on the label from last year, like Enrico Bracco's 'Flying In A Box' (review HERE), Davide Peluso Quartet's 'The Blue Zone' (review HERE) and Antonio Trinchera's 'The Tractor And The Child' (review HERE) but it certainly gives more on repeated listens.

Artist: Pippo D'Ambrosio  

Title: Beyond The Sky

Release date: 15th March, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Antonio Trinchera – The Tractor And The Child (Elbert Phillips Remix) (A.MA Reforged)

There's many things we've learnt this year but one of the best is that there's a vibrant new jazz scene in Italy that's represented by A.MA Records (see Ennrico Bracco's 'Flying In A Box' album and 'The Blue Zone' by the Davide Peluso Quartet). 

And here's another one as guitarist Antonio Trinchera musically explores his love of Fauvism art movement on an album called 'Fauves' with a band of Camillo Pace (double bass), Alessio Santoro and Leo Consoli (both drums/percussion) with co-writer of five of the nine tracks, Dony Valentino on piano/electric piano and violin.

Electric violin! Lost to jazz if it's not Jean-Luc Ponty in the 70s and there's certainly lots of fusion influence in this as you might tell from the title of the first track, '1976'.

But hang on a minute, what's this about an Elebert Phillips Remix? Well, like the Re:Warm label or BiggaBush's 'Free-visited' the label has a Reforged arm and has already had a huge house hit with Elbert (producer, remixer, label owner and contributor to 5 Magazine - that's just like our own Will Sumsuch I hear you say) with Elbert's remix of Antonio's 'Joy Drops' last year.

And he's back this week with an extended remix of 'The Tractor And The Child' with more keys, the violin and added 'bone (could there be a connection with Gianluca Petrella?) and lots of 'Chicago' (Elbert's past credits includes being Frankie Knuckles warm-up DJ!)

The eight minute 'Done Deal Remix' comes with the orginal album version and I'd be most surprised if this doesn't make the Colour & Pitch end of year mix.

Many thanks to once more to DJ Bob Hill (BBE, TWR, ReddSugarBlack Creative) for championing their releases with a this and his compilations.

Elbert Phillips: 5 Magazine DJ Series

Artist: Antonio Trinchera  

Title: The Tractor And The Child (Elbert Phillips Remix)

Release date: 2nd December, 2022

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : A.MA Reforged 002 / Digital / Bandcamp