This is a new band to me, despite it being their third album. I have come across the leader briefly, in other environments, but not the other musicians. It’s worth going through them if only to point out the varied and mixed backgrounds that clearly influence their music.
Mirko Pedrotti, vibraphone and composition was born in 1983, and is actively involved in classical orchestras as well as in jazz and other modern music. He formed this group in 2013. Lorenzo Sighel is described unkindly on one website as “a very little known Italian saxophone player, band leader and rapper. He mixes jazz, funk and hip hop”. Luca Olzer on keyboards graduated in Jazz piano in 2013 but professionally he build string instruments including violins, violas and cellos. Michele Bazzanella is a bass player, DJ and composer of music for dance, a regular in the band Les Jeux Sont Funk. Matteo Giordani, has very little information online apart from a list of fine musicians he has played with.
As you might expect from those varied backgrounds, the music itself shifts frequently between styles. The album title Flam is another name for the grace note or acciaccatura used by percussionists.
The album opens with the vibraphone laying down a pleasant riff, using lots of the aforementioned flam, before the rest of the band join with a solid rock rhythm and the keyboard providing a background for a strong vibes solo. Then everything slows down for a brief moment of calm from the sax before we return to the earlier riff, with a thumping background sounding like a jaw harp
Pedrotti’s classical background comes to the fore in the two part suite that closes the album. Part 1 has a definite minimalist feel to it, first from the vibraphone and then from the keyboard. Part 2 is more interesting with an intricate counterpoint between the keyboard and vibes at the start.
The track “Rogue One” is particularly good fun. Very loosely based on the famous Star Wars theme over a thumping drum and bass rhythm, with plenty of electronics. Sighel takes the lead here with a fine solo followed by some baroque like counterpoint, then back to the rock rhythm to close with the force definitely with them!
Peter Slavid broadcasts a programme of European Jazz on mixcloud.com/ukjazz and various internet stations