Straight11travis
Angelo Mastronardi is a multiform character: artist and producer, publisher and composer. The multifaceted personality of the pianist is sometimes substantiated in a range of styles that embraces classical and contemporary jazz, passing through some element of rock and soul, other times is immersed in a melting-pot sound reading some concepts of Steve Coleman M-Base. His classic background is evident on his touch on acoustic piano. But what is most striking is his ability to combine technical precision and ghost notes to serve a rather complex rhythmic vision. Angelo Mastronardi’s third band-leader album, «Rough Line», released in 2020, reveals to us without hesitation how the pianist knows how to look forward, without ever losing touch with the mirror that links him to tradition. Particularly interesting "All in My Hands" for its rhythmic solutions and the sophisticated use of electric piano and synths. On the post-bop side, great proof of improvisational language in his song "Follow Me" and in the burning version of "Oleo" by Sonny Rollins. "Everything I Need" and "Away From The Scene" are perfect examples of fusion of contemporary jazz, hip-hop and bold harmonic language. Great rehearsals in these tracks are not only the solos of Mastronardi but also the solo of Rogers Anning on "Everything I Need" and the rhythmic grooves of the drummer Melo Miceli, full of displacements and personal sounds on drum set. The album ends with "Even If", a track with a floating time on even 8th and a very intellectual melodic profile in which the trio shows great interplay and a rhythmic approach oriented to risk.