Like every expert cook, gypsy toned guitarist Nunzio Ferro reminds you of the important adage of trusting your basic ingredients. In this case, it’s swing, joy and musicianship, as Ferro and his company perform an album filled with hot jazz that will get you dancing and cheering at both the rhythm and soloing. He brings together rhythm guitarist Marco Cavaliere, bassists Giovanni Mastrangelo and woody toned clarinetist Luigi Acquaro along with some cameo guests for some fantastic and infectious Hot Club heat.
Ferro’s picking and timing on solos is right in the tradition of Django Reinhardt, either creating rich unison lines with Acquaro on the hot cha “Black Out” and “Mouche” or in a chase scene like a dog going after his tail on the swirling “Mr. Heisenberg.” The rhythm team provides a lovely and sensuous Latin lit on the romantic dance Antonio Aucello’s guest soprano sax solo of “Cinco de la Manhana” while strutting to the left bank as clarinet and guitar walk hand in hand along the river on the bluesy “Mouche”. Ferro adds a dash of African tones to his guitar for Konigsse Bolero” with Acquaro’s breathy tone getting Debuyssy-esquely deep in the lower register. The team is pastoral and optimistic on themes like the cheerful “Venerdi 13” (with Gaetano Partipilo alto sax added on) and the folksy “Woods” with Antonio Cicoria’s drums while Gianni Iorio adds a dash of bohemia with his bandoneon on “Poussette in Paris”
This is the kind of music that, like all great meals, reminds you that the basic ingredients of a sauce are always the most satisfying and the desire to add extra flavor usually actually detracts from the essence.