Released
1998
Label
Materiali Sonori
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Via Tre Novembre, 2
52027 San Giovanni Valdorno
Italy
Visit
Last Edit/Update
20 June, 1998
Arlo Bigazzi
[2]
Track Listing
1. She Walks Alone
2,3. I Cappelli Di Herma
4. Memory Lost!
5. Nello Like A Sultan
6. B-cycle
7. Alicante
8. Quanto Sbocciar Di Fiori
9. Waves
10, 11, 12. Arc-en-ciel
From the fine, quality-oriented Italian label Materiali Sonori, comes the
second -- generically entitled -- solo release from Arlo Bigazzi. The CD features
a long list of strong individual musicians supporting Bigazzi, who aside from
playing bass, synth and a variety of other instruments, has also produced the album, and
written all the selections (alternately with assistance from Pier Luigi Andreoni,
Daniele Malvisi and Daniel Schell).
Bigazzi's compositions on
this album combine a variety of musical styles; blues, jazz, folk and rock being only some
of the more tangible elements. The instrumentation is likewise diverse, ranging from the
traditional guitar, bass, saxophone and drums to classical instruments like cello, flutes
and clarinet to more exotic inclusions such as marimbas, didjeridoo and djembé. Moreover,
synthesizers have been very nicely incorporated into the over-all sound picture, mainly to
establish mood and ambiance.
The individual pieces on [2]
move gracefully across a wide spectrum of moods. The opening track "She Walks
Alone" for example, has a nice, warm feel to it. Wandering along to the pulse of
subdued rhythms and bass, a merry saxophone theme moves through a series of musical
environments. At one moment a string arrangement of Asian determination swirls around the
sax, only to subside, and be replaced by the gurgling sound of a didjeridoo. The piece as
such strolls along with a lightness and playfulness that only seems possible beneath a
Southern sun.
Exploring entirely different
emotions, "Memory Lost" moves in nostalgic circles around the opening sounds of
children at play. Underlying synth airs establish a slightly perturbed feel that the other
instruments play against. The saxophone is again strongly present, and in this context
seems to argue for all the fond memories of childhood, while guitar and e-bow display
somewhat more melancholy sentiments. Also prominent is a flute theme, which with its frail
qualities perhaps represent the very fabric of memory itself. In all respects this too is
a powerful piece, using music in a very original fashion to suggest a variety of different
emotional modes that essentially share the same root.
Typically, the most moving and
beautiful piece on the CD is also the one most difficult to describe or explain.
"B-Cycle" is a more minimal composition than most of the tracks on [2];
the power here does not stem from musical acrobatics, but rather from the extremely
evocative quality of the harmonium theme, which appears like a chorus throughout the
piece. The impression is again of a longing for the past, but as on most of the pieces on
the album, this sensation is not singular or overwhelming. A crisp guitar theme, and some
rather humorous effects created on something called a "chapman stick," run
counter to the melancholy airs of the harmonium. So, while "B-Cycle" speaks of the
day gone by, it also reminds of those wonderful moments passed during that day.
Whatever images and moods are
conjured up by Bigazzi and his strong ensemble of fellow musicians on [2],
there is however never any doubt as to the central, and true driving emotion behind this
work, which is the joy of playing and creating music. On "She Walks Alone,"
"Waves" and "Arc-en-ciel" this is particularly clear, as every
musician shares equally in the musical unity of these pieces, while also in turn taking
center stage.
