Guazzaloca, Nicola – “Tecniche Arcaiche Live At Angelica” – [Amirani Records/Amirani Contemporary]

Naysayer   12/8/2015   CD, Jazz

Out of Bologna, Italy comes Nicola Guazzaloca, pianist extraordinaire. Born in 1975, Guazzaloca focuses on the experimental and improvisational side of things and is a big part of the European jazz circle. “Tecniche Arcaiche” is his two part solo piano composition which many consider his masterpiece. Performed live at the Angelica International Music Festival from Bolgona, “Tecniche Arcaiche” is 42 minutes of stunning piano playing. Parte Prima is Guazzaloca leaning inside of the piano, plucking, strumming, rubbing, twisting, who knows what else, to the strings. An authoritative, skilled intervention of what more the piano may provide. Parte Seconda has Nicola sitting at the bench, playing the ivories from low register to high. With a command and knowledge of how to bring a variety of sounds from the piano, Guazzaloca flows through moods of chaos and control. Yet again, another wonderful selection from Amirani Records, working to teach us that experimental and challenging does not always have to be messy.