I Paesani featuring Günter “Baby” Sommer

While overt zaniness is muted here, German percussionist Günter “Baby” Sommer would seem to be the perfect playmate for the Bari-based vocal and instrumental sextet I Paesani. That’s because the group specializes in a mixture of entertainment and enlightenment, while the drummer often adds comic asides in his solos.

Nine tunes are rooted in the vocalizing of Loredana Savino, whose sound affiliations range from angry screeches and rhythmic whoops to bel canto lyricism, filled out by similar noises from male voices plus supportive instrumental interjections. Included are transverse whizzes from flutist Donato Console, boundless technical pitch and tempo variations from saxophonists Vittorino Curci and Gianni Console, vibrating stops from bassist Pierpaolo Martino and, most uncommonly, jagged mandolin clips from Valerio Fusillo. Sommer adds characteristic ratamacues, ruffs and shuffles to the arrangements.

Those augmentations occur most prominently on the title track where opening up the tune for slashing pumps, constant patterning and nerve beats from the drummer almost reconfigures it. Considering the extended operation is already studded with repeated vocal reflux and syllabification plus tongue-twisting recitations from Savino’s altered tessitura; pointed mandolin picking; and reed vamps divided between basement honks and altissimo smears; it’s a credit to all that the resulting crescendo settles down into growls and trills at the finale.

Sommer’s snare/tom reverberation and thumping ruffs on “Fasius” are also notable. But here too they add to the layered exposition made up of flute peeps, baritone saxophone snorts and string shakes surmounted by squeaks and mumbles from the singer. Long-term Sommer’s skills reinforce a program that’s unique enough to jab mandolin twangs in the middle of lullaby harmonies or mate reed whines with nursery rhyme-like recitations without upsetting the narrative process. The drummer may be the featured performer, but overall musical value comes from an unbreakable group conceptions.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Karawane 2. Fratmatosma 3 Makuma 4. Fasius 5. Un piccolo rinfresco 6. Domniàzze 7. Fail 8. Iban 9. Braastabrà

Personnel: Vittorino Curci (alto and tenor saxophones); Gianni Console (alto and baritone sax saxophones); Donato Console (flute); Valerio Fusillo (mandolin); Pierpaolo Martino (bass); Günter “Baby” Sommer (drums) and Loredana Savino (voice)