No More Mr. Nice Guy
Lello Molinari has the perfect answer to those who believe that European Jazz lacks authenticity: namely, emigration. A native of Italy, the bassist has worked out of Boston since 1986. No More Mr. Nice Guy draws on a diverse pool of influences, but never strays too far from the fundamentals of blues and bop (including a clever reconsideration of "Cherokee"). Molinari's compositions are built up from bluesy, infectious bass lines, combining familiarity with an eccentricity that set tunes apart. Although Molinari is the designated leader, the most assertive voices in this quintet belong to his countryman, guitarist Luigi Tessarollo and tenor George Garzone.
Garzone steals the session. He wails like Ayler or Coltrane on "Stuntman" and his "No More Mr. Nice Guy" explores the tenor's lower register while doubling Molinari's plunging bass. Tessarollo fills multiple roles: he can contribute lyrical solos, as on the title track, or move into a Frisellian mode, adding delicate clouds of sound or bursts of dissonance, as on "C'era Chi?" Exchanges among Garzone, Tessarollo and altoist Ralph Yates establish the group dynamic, and Molinari's ensemble shifts gears smoothly through an engaging set, negotiating harmolodic frenzy as well as ballads and lullabies.
- Jon Andrews
