Salvoandrea Lucifora Quartet

Shaded tone poems celebrating the Mediterranean and African seas and coastlines, the two Drifters suites are interpreted by a quartet almost as geographically diverse as the designated land masses. Although all are Amsterdam residents, only bassist Omer Govreen is Dutch. Composer/trombonist Salvoandrea Lucifora is a Sicilian who has played with Han Buhrs; Polish pianist Marta Warelis has recorded with Wilbert De Joode; and Argentinean drummer Marcos Baggiani is part of Ambush Party

Overcoming the sparseness of the instrumentation which sometimes exposes gaps as wide as between reefs and the seashore are distinctive patterns and techniques. Slowly undulating in a liquid manner the extended “Mediterranean Suite” sonically resembles the sea’s interrelated flora and fauna. Lucifora’s half-valve flutters, scoops and gripping whistle at first seem to exist in a separate part of the ecosystem from Warelis’ measured piano lines, until place marking drum smacks pick up the pace. Harmonized piano clip and projected brass shakes decorate the evolving theme as it’s pushed forward. Maintained at mid-range, the exposition is abstracted by the trombonist’s hand muted gurgles, buzzy squeaks and top-of-range stutters but never broken. Tinged with emotion the trombonist’s portamento textures ease alongside the pianist’s subtly romantic tone emphasis until following a short pause, unvarnished metallic slides, single bass plucks and back-and-forth keyboard variables successfully attain a joint, deliberate mooring in calm musical waters.

Landmass reflective or not, the briefer “Zanzibari Suite”  is more rhythmically charged. It begins with a tough drum backbeat, vibrating double bass strokes and energetic keyboard patterning, as the trombonist establishes the double-tongued exposition. As the sequence alternates between velvety gentleness and dynamic pressure, Warelis produces an energetic counter theme that dances around the main one before blending with drum stick nerve beats and brassy bugling shales. The inner-piano-string strokes and cymbal chiming which introduce the final section resolve contradictory themes and set up a climax more polished than percussive.

Although the days of Amsterdam based adventurers exploring the world is long past,  Lucifora and his associates arrestingly still map undiscovered musical geography.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Mediterranean Suite 2. Zanzibari Suite

Personnel: Salvoandrea Lucifora (trombone); Marta Warelis (piano); Omer Govreen (bass) and Marcos Baggiani (drums)