REBIRTH

Funky e Smooth-Jazz, a Bari un suggestivo ‘Rebirth’ per Deliso

di Gianluca Doronzo per il quotidiano Puglia di sabato 5 febbraio 2011

BARI – Dal funky allo smooth-jazz, con costanti richiami autoriali (per intensità, arrangiamenti ed introspezione) a George Benson e Larry Carlton. Sonorità ed echi malinconici, con virate talvolta più “soft”, raccontando una “rinascita” non solo esistenziale e timbrica, ma soprattutto un viaggio ricco di policromie in un universo compositivo scandito da istantanee, percezioni dell’attimo, “distillati” di vita.

Avvalendosi di una capacità interpretativa mai statica o identica nel cliché. Con incisività, coraggio (dinanzi a pochi, ma buoni spettatori: di colore la nota su una signora “over”, in rigoroso abitino in lana/albicocca, pronta a fare continue fotografie ai protagonisti) e un buon temperamento corale, il chitarrista Giuseppe Deliso (da anni “in pianta stabile” nella regione, autore anche dell’e-book “Essere proattivi” della Bruno Editore, 2008) ha proposto la sua ultima “creatura”, dal titolo “Rebirth”, nell’ambito di un recente concerto al salone delle feste del Circolo Unione del Petruzzelli a Bari, rientrando nella 69esima annata della Fondazione Piccinni (tornata in auge, dopo un periodo di pausa, grazie alla perseveranza e determinazione del Presidente, Gianvito Pugliese).

Più di un’ora di piacevole ascolto, in compagnia anche del sax soprano di Vincenzo Antonicelli (preciso e pulito nella resa, senza orpelli e slabbrature), del pianoforte (e tastiere) di Vito Liturri (lodevole l’”intro” ad uno dei pezzi in kermesse, da sinfonia orchestrale), di Marco Boccia al basso (evidente la classe e il “cursus” di anni) e delle percussioni del giovane Lello Patruno (con richiami persino tribali alle radici, ad hoc).

Ora, al di là degli aspetti più legati alla performance in sé, un elemento andrebbe rilevato, ad onor di onestà di recensione: lo spirito e l’affiatamento encomiabili fra i ragazzi, manifestando una vis amichevole fra i musicisti, piuttosto rara in tempi da “primedonne”. Ciò ha reso accattivante (e meritevole di un’audience più vasta) quanto messo a punto. Fra i brani, da segnalare: “Emotions”, “O livro està sobre a mesa” e “Soul cha cha”. Per la serie: quando c’è il “talento” (in senso etimologico “dono di Dio”), c’è tutto. Chapeau.
Gianluca Doronzo

Artist: Giuseppe Deliso
Album Title: Rebirth

CD cover

Giuseppe Deliso is an Italian guitar player who offers up a multidimensional approach to jazz on his first album of original material. As the chief architect and songwriter of Rebirth, Deliso has created a work that balances deft musicianship with subtle arrangements that, like the painting on the front cover, produces a colorful pastoral effect for his listener’s senses. Equally important are Deliso’s choice of musicians that support and help him achieve his creative vision. Pianist Vito Liturri, bassist Marco Boccia, saxophonist Vincenzo Antonicelli, drummer Lello Patruno, and cellist Davide Viterbo round out the ensemble. Each of these players contributes to the whole by quietly asserting themselves when called for, and more importantly, are well versed in the art of restraint and space in the jazz idiom. Not surprisingly, Rebirth has a strong European flare that is at times reminiscent of Manfred Eicher’s ethereal yet paradoxically heavy-handed production of his ECM artists. The Italian group comes close to the improvisational style of the ECM aesthetic, but is not quite experimental enough, instead preferring solid structures of melodic framework and cultivated improvisation.

The album opens with the aptly titled “Saturday Night Groove”. Patruno and Boccia start it with a simple groove that lays the foundation for Liturri and his funky Rhodes piano work. A slight hint of distortion on the Rhodes comes through as he accents his most edgy of chords against Boccia’s fretless bass work. The dichotomy of strong chording and bass lines set the stage for the guitar to make its entrance a minute into the piece. Refreshingly, Deliso has chosen to use a crisp guitar tone that accentuates the instrument’s idiosyncrasies along with the sound of his chording fingers and pick. This in stark contrast to the ubiquitous muted tones found in jazz guitar gives his craft a fresh angle in which to hear contemporary jazz compositions. Along the way Antonicelli matches Deliso’s melodies and both take a solo, however the most exhilarating part is when the rhythm section gets behind Liturri as he aggressively solo’s against their driving patterns.

Next is the beautiful track “Emotions”, where the listener is treated to some of the finest instrumental performances on Rebirth. Juxtaposed with “Saturday Night Groove” and its exciting pace, “Emotions” downshifts toward a moody and atmospheric work that conjures up images of a late night, downtown lounge. Also in shift are Deliso’s and Liturri’s switch to their acoustic instruments, which is an obvious choice to compliment the form of the song. Deliso takes a solo that recalls Pat Metheny-like runs and cadences, while Liturri’s opening solo is a gorgeous, dynamical performance that reflects the light and dark colors of his Bill Evans inspired playing. The tonal range and expert musicianship of “Emotions” make it unquestionably one of the strongest tracks on the album.

The title track boasts the most enduring and striking melody on Rebirth. Patruno’s drumming propels the song as Liturri and Deliso play the circular melody throughout the first half. The most salient feature of the piece is Antonicelli and his version of the theme through his soprano saxophone. His command of the instrument is apparent as he sometimes ventures beyond the boundaries of the theme with his own flourishes, yet always manages to come back to support the song.

Two songs on Rebirth stand out in a figurative and literal sense for the same reason. “Rebirth bass intro” and “Rebirth Ending” feature solo performances by Boccia and Viterbo respectively. Both emphasize the subtleties of their instrument with the blending of pitch that fretless instruments afford, but it is Viterbo’s interpretation on Deliso’s Rebirth theme that stands out. This cello piece closes the album and reminds the listener of the vast capabilities of the individual musicians and the timbre of their instruments by articulating the very theme that was most dominant in the album as a whole.

Overall, Rebirth is a testament to Giuseppe Deliso’s talents as a songwriter and his band. The musicianship exhibited by all the players on Rebirth is extraordinary, and speaks to the jazz audience in way that emphasizes their personalities through the music they play.

Review by Stafford Davis
Rating: ****4Stars (out of 5)

stafford davis

Stafford Davis is an award-winning writer and photographer. His essays short stories, and photographs have been published in everything from local city-wide journals to international books and online publications. Hailing from Denver, Stafford grew up listening to a wide variety of music and eventually started making his own when he was 11.

Giuseppe Deliso – Jazz pioneer

Giuseppe Deliso is an Italian jazz guitarist who has been making and playing some of the best traditional jazz to be found anywhere in the world for a number of years.

Now, Giuseppe has finally released the first full album of his self-penned works.

The record – ‘Rebirth’ – is the perfect demonstration of the versatility that makes Giuseppe such a unique talent. It includes wonderfully inventive examples of blues, bossa nova, latin, be-bop and traditional jazz. All played with Giuseppe’s tell-tale marks of invention, wit and creativity.

It is a collection of songs as fresh and remarkable as on any jazz album released in modern times. But, while being unmistakeably of its time, it also gives a nod to the greats that inspired it. You can hear the influence of Charlie Christian alongside Carlos Santana, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Larry Carlton. Yet Giuseppe also puts his own inimitable personal mark on everything he touches.

The record is a long time coming. The title track – ‘Rebirth’ – comes from an idea originally composed by Giuseppe 20 years before, but which has been moulded and crafted over time to become possibly the stand-out song in this collection. It is not only an appropriate name for the song, but also for the album. This is a record that will give birth not only to its creator’s name in the music-loving public but might even make some listeners rediscover their old love for great jazz.

Accompanied by some truly outstanding individuals – Marco Boccia on bass, pianist Vito Liturri, Davide Viterbo on cello, drummer Lello Patruno and sax player Vincenzo Antonicelli – Giuseppe’s playing shines through like a beacon.

‘Rebirth’ is a record not only for jazz lovers, but for lovers of any music that comes from deep in the soul. It is a genuinely remarkable performance from a genuinely remarkable musician and composer who will now finally discover the fame he so richly deserves.

‘Rebirth’ is available to buy now from CD Baby.

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. John Lennon

This first disc seeing Giuseppe Deliso as author, is characterized by a focus on how an individual changes and evolves, and by one’s natural evolution towards freedom.

We are far too often influence by our environment, our families, our religion into being a specific type of person that in general is not who we would really like to be. Parents, tutors, priests, reverends, rabbis and the likes are all deciding, willingly or unwillingly, the kind of life that we should live. And while we are busy developing the lifeplan that has been chosen for us, life streams in front of our eyes..

In REBIRTH, Giuseppe Deliso, expresses his journey towards freedom. To him, being reborn is to catch that instant passing in front of us, because in that instant lies our real self.

REBIRTH begins with “Saturday Night Groove” an Even 8ths borrowing sounds from R&B; a very engaging theme with sparkles of pure energy.

The next track is “Emotions” , a romantic ballad describing a metaphoric interior trip. It is a very intimate tune, describing our identities, loves, human feelings and our inner worlds. A mention goes to the beautiful piano intro executed by Vito Liturri.

The playlist goes on with a classic repertoire of any jazz musician, with good blues: played in F, and “Blues-4-F” which is in fact an engaging Swing 8ths .

Afterwards we can find a wonderful bossa track titled “O Livro Està Sobre a Mesa”. This track was born from gloomy and sad thoughts, emphasized by an upbeat piano intro. The title is intentionally ironical: “the book is on the table” in Portuguese.

The following track is the one giving name to the album “Rebirth”.

The track starts with a fascinating bass intro, realized and executed by the bass player Marco Boccia.
Metaphorically, Rebirth is the sparkle of the record. The harmonic and structural sounds have been composed by Giuseppe Deliso 20 years before the full track was actually finalized. The track has been renovated and finalized, with Giuseppe re-writing and re-playing it over the years, showing that in fact this composition is a part of his inner path. concluding the composition of this track means that Giuseppe Deliso is ready to complete what he begun years earlier, it is its full awareness and its rebirth.

The last track comes up: “Soul Cha Cha”. It is a catchy, Latin-style song, the perfect goodbye for the listener, with a final eyewink.

This record ends in the best possible way since it recalls the Rebirth theme. It ends in fact with a final re-birth. The musical instrument that has been used is nothing less than a violoncello. This is a free interpretation of the topic ,and it begins with a brilliant improvisation executed by Davide Viterbo

A final praise to the other two extraordinary musicians that were not mentioned: Vincenzo Antonicelli, sax soprano e Lello Patruno, drums.

Rebirth. The new Album by giuseppe deliso

Now Available!