Multiple Personalities
Reviewer -Katie DeBonville
Muliple Personalities is an apt name for this, Lello Molinari's third CD. The eleven works performed on the disc demonstrate an often unique mix of experimentation and tradition, from the unusual pairing of male voice and tenor saxophone in the disc's opening work, George Garzone's “Anthony Goes to Mardy Gras,” to “Tarantella,” a spirited Italian number based on the 19th century folk dance of the same name. Perhaps jazz's most withstanding tradition is the blues, a form to which Molinari is no stranger. Garzone's work features a fairly traditional blues trombone solo played by Jeff Galindo; Molinari himself likens the style to that of Coltrane. Yet tradition is challenged with the introduction of the melody in Mick Goodrick's electric guitar solo, creating a satisfying juxtaposition of old and new, tradition and innovation. And what could be more traditional than the piano trios of Thelonius Monk? Molinari includes three on Multiple Personalities: “Friday The 13th,” “Bemsha Swing,” and “Boo Boo's Birthday.” Each of these works is marked by rhythmic complexity: tempo changes occur almost imperceptibly, suggesting a true rapport among the instruments of the trio. These players know one another and are familiar with each other's performance tendencies, a quality that is evident and endearing to the listener. Multiple Personalities features Molinari the performer and Molinari the composer; his “Ma Che Ffai?” is the disc's second track. Molinari writes that the track's title literally translates to “What are you ddoing?” in Italian. The answer to this question is a group improvisation. One that starts off so quietly that the listener isn't sure if the piece has begun or if the CD player is misbehaving. As George Garzone's saxophone gradually takes the lead from Molinari's bass, the listener can discern the individual instrument lines yet feels a simultaneous sense of cohesion. This is a band that works as a unit and does it well. While the Italian songs performed with vocalist Chiara Civello are enjoyable, for sheer fun the listener should pay close attention to “Tarantella,” the work at the disc's center. This anonymous composition evokes visions of an Italian street parade, complete with trombone smears thrown in for good measure. The work gradually becomes more improvisational, but it never stops being a tarantella; Molinari remains true to his Italian roots. In an interesting twist, Molinari notes that the first and last tracks on Multiple Personalities were test-driven by the band during performances at Cambridge's RegattaBar. Clearly the spirit of experimentation is one that Molinari and his band members enjoy both in and out of the recording studio.
