Better known for his work with guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Massimo Biolcati shows what he can do as a leader on this creative and wide ranging collection of songs, both original and covers, with a team of Sam Yahel/org-p, Jongkuk Kim/dr and Dayna Stephens who plays a plethora of saxes.
Biolcati keeps things interesting and fresh with an elliptical take of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” and melding in Yahel’s organ and Stephens’ lithe soprano, while Thelonious Monk’s “Boo Boo’s Birthday” bops to Kim’s cymbals as Stephens’ tenor blows smoke rings.
With Stephens on the big sounding baritone sax, things get real interesting as Biolcati digs a nice groove for his own deep and richly romantic “Fellini” while he and Stephens lurk around Yahel’s keyboards on Dave Holland’s “Now’s Never” and get bluesy and loose on Charles Mingus’ “Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love.” The textures created by this team are like threads of a tapestry, weaving together to form palpable depth. Fascinating tones and colors.