Never Fault Behind The Scenes (CD Album)
Gianluca Lusi, Andrea Rea, Reuben Rogers, Gregory Hutchinson | Tosky Records®
“Never Fault Behind The Scenes” is a quartet music work by Gianluca Lusi who has been involved in a completely original project carried out in cooperation with exceptional musicians. An album that ranges from modern mainstream to free jazz, with intense melodic cues, enhanced by the powerful rhythmic contribution of the two stars Reuben Rogers and Gregory Hutchinson. This album represents the consecration of the italian saxophonist and his musical style.
Never Fault Behind The Scenes (CD Album). Gianluca Lusi, multi-sax player and composer has worked with several international artists: Danilo Rea, Maurizio Giammarco, Bill Carrothers, Massimo Moriconi, Massimo Manzi, Giovanni Amato, Riccardo Fassi, Pino Jodice, Joel Holmes, Gianluigi Goglia, Peter Epstein, Larry Panella, Russell Welch, Andy Gravish, Köbberling Heinrich, Thomas Siffling, Pietro Iodice, Luigi Masciari, Denise King, Olivier Hutman. Among some of his works: “Rune” (Splasch Records), the duo “Loose” alongside Joel Holmes (Tosky Records) and “What’s New” (Caligola Records). Andrea Rea, pianist born in 1983, he collaborates with musicians such as Dado Moroni, Kenny Barron, George Cables, Barry Harris, Maurizio Giammarco, Alessandro Gwis, Julian Oliver Mazzariello. Takes part in many contests, winning many of them including: “Baronissi Jazz”, “Tuscia in Jazz” and even “Piacenza Jazz” and “Jazz no Tea Factory”. In 2007 he’s the winner of the prestigious international award “Massimo Urbani” PIMU 11. In 2010 he produced “White Room” and in 2014 “Arioso” (Abeat Records), currently playing in Stefano DI Battista’s quartet. Reuben Rogers born November 15, 1974, and raised in the Virgin Islands, in his formative years, Rogers, began with the clarinet, experimented with the piano, drums and guitar, but found his true passion in the bass. Rogers’ musical education is punctuated by numerous outstanding student awards, most notably, a scholarship endowed by the Fish Middleton Jazz Society, also he earned his Bachelor of Music in 1997 from Berklee College of Music. He has enjoyed the opportunity of intense musical relationships with jazz artists of world-renown, such as Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Marcus Roberts, Nicholas Payton, Mulgrew Miller, Jackie McLean, Charles Lloyd and Dianne Reeves. He has toured extensively all over the globe, and has recorded on over 70 CDs. Greg Hutchinson, born in Brooklyn, Jazz Magazine describes him as “the drummer of his generation” and indeed, Gregory Hutchinson is one of the most highly respected musicians of our time. His mastery of timing and expression of rhythms is at the core of his personal style. He quickly became known as a young phenom in the jazz community sharing the stage with the likes of not only Rodney, but Betty Carter, and Ray Brown, while still in his early twenties. He collaborates with some of the great orginators of jazz music: Dianne Reeves, Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Roy Hargrove, Charles Lloyd, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride and Maria Schneider as well as many other’s.
Scott Yanow –
A top Italian saxophonist during the past 15 years, Gianluca Lusi is heard in top form throughout Never Fault Behind The Scenes. Not only did he contribute all nine originals but he plays with creativity and originality on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones plus bass clarinet.
Lusi heads a quartet that also features the very talented pianist Andrea Rea and two Americans; bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Much of their music could be considered modern mainstream jazz or forward-looking hard bop. The music swings but is never predictable and there is an impressive amount of variety.
The opening “October 10th” finds Lusi on tenor hinting a little bit at Dexter Gordon. Each of the musicians has opportunities to solo with Hutchinson playing with plenty of color. The uptempo “Out Of My Lips” has some intense alto from Lusi in the tradition of Jackie McLean and Kenny Garrett but with his own approach. He races effortlessly over the chord changes. “I Remember Three Things” is a heartfelt ballad on which Lusi’s soprano playing is touched a little by the sound of Wayne Shorter. “Bavin” finds him caressing the melody before his soprano playing becomes gradually more adventurous.
“Isn’t A New Day” is fiery post bop with a repetitive theme and stormy solos, an uptempo piece with fast walking bass by Rogers behind excellent improvisations by Lusi on soprano and pianist Rea. “Another Note” has some intense playing by Lusi on alto. Lusi’s alto sounds beautiful on “One For Sylvie” which also has a lyrical statement by Rogers. “Mother” is a straight ahead jam on the chord changes of “Days Of Wine And Roses” that shows Lusi’s familiarity with the jazz tradition. The final selection, “Never Fault Behind The Scenes,” is a surprise for it is a fairly free duet by Lusi on bass clarinet with drummer Hutchinson, ending the set with plenty of fireworks.
Throughout Never Fault Behind The Scenes, Gianluca Lusi never runs out of fresh ideas and his band sounds very alert and inspired. This CD is a perfect example of high-quality 21st century jazz.
Scott Yanow,
author of 11 books including Bebop, Trumpet Kings, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76
Francesco Branciamore –
Il quartetto di Lusi suona in modo meraviglioso una musica che ha una radice storica precisa ma con un mood totalmente rinnovato. Ottimo progetto. Bravi!!!
Francesco Branciamore (drums& composer)