feature photo: Gulnara Khamatova
An Italian living in New York, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Nicola Caminiti relates his experience living on both sides of the Atlantic with his debut collection of songs, Vivid Tales of A Blurry Self-Portrait. The past winner of Herb Alpert ASCAP Jazz Composer Competition as well as the North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Competition, he brings a dual-threat prowess to bear on his first record, one that isn’t the tentative first step you hear on so many debut albums. Caminiti is experienced at the age of 29 as he steps into the leader role with a lot of poise and a veteran’s discernment.
For this first time out, Caminiti assembled a quartet of guys he trusted to help carry out his heady program: Lex Korten (piano), Ben Tiberio (double bass) and Miguel Russell (drums). All of them play crisp, and understand how to wed harmony to rhythm. Caminiti himself alternates between alto and soprano saxophones.
Caminiti has a bit of that Charles Lloyd lyricism flowing out on the gently rolling sax/piano-only “A Flurry Blank Canvas” that kicks off the album.
Caminiti is adept at making the complex so easy to absorb. His lead lines on “Elliptical Biking” are sprightly and buoyant, and he unifies with Korten on them at tactical points to make them impact harder. “Cloudy In(to) The Sky” is another twisty but richly melodic line. Aided by a strong rhythm section, Korten puts in a brisk exhibition with assistive input from Caminiti. “Just Find a Reason To” is another example where a knotted but fetching theme played together by Caminiti and Korten. This time, Tiberio follows with his own, complementing patterns.
The changeups in demeanor keeps the album from bogging down in sameness: the up tempo tunes are nicely balanced out with stately ones. “Crowded Solitude” is introspective, and Caminiti’s silky soprano sax makes his complex patterns seem naturally inspired. On “Farewell Too Soon,” Caminiti waxes poetically on his alto sax, trading outpourings of sentiment with Korten. “Eternal Return” is deeply meditative, unexpectedly ending on an upbeat note with a whole new melody.
“Worlds of Equality (mb)” is dedicated to the pianist Marco Birro, a Berklee grad and fellow Italian whose great promise was snuffed out by a sudden death. Caminiti’s somber tune is poignant and his soprano sax ardently portrays the loss. Right after that he salutes Adam O’Farrill with “Adam Arturo,” riding on Russell’s lively rhythm, which Korten also does on his solo turn.
Perhaps because it’s his first major artistic statement to the world, the all-originals Vivid Tales of A Blurry Self-Portrait is deeply personal. It tells a story with not words but with feel, and you can’t help but notice the unpretentious emotional investment that Nicola Caminiti put into his music.
You can obtain Vivid Tales of A Blurry Self-Portrait from Bandcamp.
*** Nicola Caminiti on Amazon ***
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