When we first encountered the Italian pianist Tonino Miano more than a decade prior to this post, he was a relative newcomer to the NYC scene, and his collaborations of the time — like the FluiDensity project with Brian Groder — were well received.
Now back in Italy, Miano is even more creative than before. His current Tonino Miano Trio with Riccardo Grosso on double bass and Andrea Melani on drums sees the evolving keyboardist and composer move into the challenging but limitless word of electro-acoustic jazz. Adding synths but still leading with piano, his Trio came forth with the explorative Luminary in September, 2024.
“Quark traps” (video above) employs synthesizers but in a supporting role setting the enigmatic mood, and then Miano turns to his piano and channels Cecil Taylor while never forgetting those who came before him. The rhythm section absorbs all these juxtapositions in stride, staying true to their mission of supportive harmony and rhythm. For “I wear my particles, generally,” the space sounds emanating from the Korg are random and dispersed, but nevertheless complements Miano’s piano voicings.
Miano goes all-acoustic on many tracks, and that’s just fine. The blurring of the lines that demarcate inside from outside and making of music from deep in the well of emotion are approaches that carry over well across both worlds. “Blip” charges out the gate then settles into a whimsically contemplative state, playfully making its way back to the head. On “Luminary,” takes an approach informed by classical and jazz but inspired by abandon, closely matching Matthew Shipp’s blueprint but Miano lets each thought linger for contemplation. He adjusts his style to meet the unhurried, crooked path of “Probably just now.”
For “Kiss a comet”, Miano states a melody and wanders off of it but stays within its radius is a delicate dance between modern jazz and avant-garde. Grosso and Melani are also distorting perceptions, as they keep the timekeeping very fluid for “All you’ve got is an inclined plane. “The on/off timekeeping of “Flearige” presents the kind of challenges with which Miano flourishes, and Grosso’s puckish and rangy bass competes for attention.
“Found in space” revolves a highly definable bass ostinato but breaks free from as Miano pulls away from it, only to repeatedly return to the cyclical figure in a stimulating see-saw of in and out.
Throughout Luminary, Tonino Miano often takes chances and stretches out while somehow making the music very melodic and pretty at the same time. Riccardo Grosso and Andrea Melani give him the kind of exquisite support that only amplifies that prettiness.
Get Luminary now from Bandcamp.
*** Tonino Miano on Amazon ***
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