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Wednesday, 13 November 2024

'Entanglements' by Fabio Tullio



'Entanglements' marks the new album release from saxophonist Fabio Tullio who returns to his home of A.MA Records six years after his debut with the label.


Following the warmly-received 'Tales From Within' in 2018, Tullio's sublime introduction delivered a real gem for the Italian-based label comparatively early within its life-span.  'Tales From Within' ultimately came about in the midst of a diverse array of A.MA album releases that showcased the jazz-funk of Paolo Achenza, the acid jazz of The Motion Collective and the neo-soul meets jazz of Francesca Sortino.  Tullio's exquisite project became an album that helped set A.MA on a path towards its affection for contemporary, innovative and improvised jazz projects helping to lay the groundwork for artists that would eventually follow through the label's hallowed halls like Andrea Gomellini, Gianluca Vigliar and Enrico Bracco.


As an in-demand saxophonist and performer, Fabio Tullio has racked up a strong amount of collaborations over the years including work alongside Mario Biondi, Amanda Lear, The Soultrend Orchestra and the Castelli Jazz Collective, amongst others.  His Papik-produced 'Cocktail Jazz' full-length from 2018 presented some vibrant string-laden, bossa covers of music by Paul McCartney, Nat King Cole and Joao Gilberto. 


'Entanglements' serves as a return to centre-stage for Tullio and it's a return that that is unveiled through an album with such an inspired concept.  A celebration of sorts to the art of performance and improvisation that relishes the circumstance of a collection of artists and musicians creating music within a designated space and time.  There's an excellent quote attributed to jazz pianist Cecil Taylor who astutely noted that "improvisation is the ability to talk to oneself".  It's such an evocative summary of the artform and to expand upon that, if I may, as well as "talking to oneself", there is also the discipline to "listen" to the musicians around you, respond in kind, play your part within that cohesion, supporting one another... It's absolutely an artform all of its own and 'Entanglements' serves to embrace the notion that each session sparks something that wouldn't have existed in any other space or time.


The album is supported by some incredible musicians joining Tullio for this milestone adventure, including Alessandro Gwis and Massimiliano De Lucia on piano and drums respectively, both returning as key collaborators from 'Tales From Within'.  Long-time collaborator and fellow A.MA recording artist Andrea Gomellini features on guitar throughout, alongside bassist Andrea Colella, drummer Valerio Vantaggio, trumpeter Claudio Corvini and percussionist Simone Talone. 


The music across the album's seven compositions offer some sensational pieces - from the cosmic tinged 'Ode' to the spirited 'The Return of Mr Crohn' and notwithstanding the lush intimacy of 'Elements'.  Vocalist Marta Capponi blesses album opener 'Don't Forget' delivering an early album standout and appears again for the three-part closing number 'Untitled Spiritual'.


We'd be remiss in not mentioning the fact that it's been an excellent year for new music releases for A.MA Records - projects by Egidio Rondinone, Katarina Kochetova, Shljuka Quintet and Gianluca Vigliar have garnered exceptional and warranted praise with Fabio Tullio's 'Entanglements' rounding out the year in phenomenal fashion.  If it takes another six years for Tullio to return with another full-length project after this one then we have every confidence that it will without doubt be worth the wait.


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