Francesco Bigoni / Emanuele Maniscalco / Mark Solborg

Pointillist chamber Jazz which depends as much on inference as intent, Foil foils the concept that frenetic busyness is free music’s only performance mode. At the same time the members of this Italian-Danish trio often tread very close to the boundary where sound connection can turn from expressive to enervating. This established trio is a bit of a departure for Danish guitarist Mark Solborg, who has also recorded with the likes of genre-jumping saxophonist Chris Speed and trumpeter Axel Dörner. His associates are two Italians domiciled in Denmark, tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Francesco Bigoni, who has worked with drummer Zeno De Rossi, and pianist Emanuele Maniscalco, who also gigs as a drummer.

In the past each if the players has toyed with near-Rock and out-and-out atonality. But despite those skills, there are no thundering passages here. Instead the trio members make their points through understatement. Sleekly shirting monochrome blandness in the narratives, tune modulations to liven up the tracks often depend on thickened harmonizes as Bigoni on saxophone fluidly whistles new timbres or changes tracks to display his Getz-Webster-like romanticism. As well, Maniscalco’s piano clusters move from semi-classical formalism to resoundingly rhythmic clipping and Solborg’s guitar licks crunch thickly as often as they touch on Jim Hall-like lyricism.

String twangs, atmospheric keyboard chording, slides and arabesques on “Cogito Ascorbicum” provide the date’s most theatrical outpouring, but after completion seems to lack a climax. Perhaps it’s because the tune is more of a liaison to introduce Foil’s three most interesting tracks: “Low Land”, “Voices from the Ground I” and “Voices from the Ground II”, all composed by Solborg. Interweaving quotes from “Goodbye Porkpie Hat”, the first produces baritone-guitar-pitched twangs that mix with bent note trills from Bigoni. “Voices from the Ground I” intensifies the mood with Maniscalco’s high-pitched plinks at the top adumbrating what’s to come on “Voices from the Ground II” as its exposition deepens and darkens the mood, transforming what were steely chalumeau clarinet puffs into unfolding sequence of unalloyed beauty as the narrative also moves upwards in pitch he scale. Finally “Voices from the Ground II” unravels the motifs which have already been frequently repeated in nascent form with a layered coda that encompasses piano chording, tenor saxophone breaths and harmonized guitar licks. The CD offers up low key and calming sounds for those who prefer a program like this. But perhaps for those who prefer a tougher narrative, next time out three could bring a little more liveliness to the program.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Being Kepesh 2. Day To Day Diplomacy 3. May be Simple [Maniscalco] 6:31

4. FOIL 5. Nisimasa 6. Ridotto 7. Cogito Ascorbicum 8. Low Land 9. Voices from the Ground I 10.Voices from the Ground II 11. In Memoriam

Personnel: Francesco Bigoni (tenor saxophone and clarinet); Mark Solborg (guitar) and Emanuele Maniscalco (piano)