Ferdinando Romano ft. Ralph Alessi: Totem

There is a cool professionalism to this set, seven fine musicians quietly going about their business in undemonstrative but thoughtful, collaborative style

2014

Trumpeter Ralph Alessi is generous with his time, appearing quite regularly as a guest on the albums of new, young and upcoming musicians. This time he has joined up with a group of young Italians led by bassist Ferdinando Romano, whose debut album this is and whose own ever-interesting compositions fill the set.

Inevitably Alessi dominates proceedings, his pure, fluttering notes introducing The Gecko as they roll out over bass-led grooves until the contrasting flugelhorn of Tommaso Iacoviello slides in to trade phrases with him. On the first part of Sea Crossing, he is more abstract in his ideas, and well balanced against the luminous shimmers of Nazareno Caputo’s vibes. And while it is to Alessi that one’s ears are drawn, pianist Manuel Magrini is always pertinent in what he has to play.

Leader Romano’s compositions tend to the contemplative and cool, Wolf Totem perhaps the best in its gradual racking up of tension and stress led by Magrini’s insistent piano lines, while Curly impresses as a tender ballad. But so too do the poignant Memories Reprise, distinguished by the leader’s fine arco work, and the ingenious reflective repetition of Mirrors.

Throughout, there is a cool professionalism to this set, seven fine musicians quietly going about their business in undemonstrative but thoughtful, collaborative style. It all makes for a classy debut.

Discography
The Gecko; Evocation; Wolf Totem; Curly; Sea Crossing Part 1; Sea Crossing Part 2; Memories Reprise; Mirrors (58.59)
Romano (b); Alessi (t); Tommaso Iacoviello (flh); Simone Alessandrini (ss, as); Nazarene Caputo (vib, mar); Manuel Magrini (p); Giovanni Paolo Liguori (d). Cavalicco, Udine, Italy, 10–11 October 2019.
Losen Records LOS 242-2