Massimo Urbani
Easy To Love

With "Easy to Love" (a name taken from the eponymous song by Cole Porter present in the album), an album by der man de Roma Massimo Urbani and recorded at the AT Sonic studios in Rome in January of 1987, you are faced with a truly beautiful album, not only in the discography of the Roman saxophonist, but also in general in the Italian Jazz scene.

It sounds dynamic, inventive, full of fury, thanks to four of the most captivating expressions of '80s Jazz, much of the best youth of those years: Urbani himself leading the brigade, Luca Flores on piano, Furio di Castri (who shared many musical seasons with Urbani, ever since di Castri's arrival in Rome at the end of the '70s, and also an authentic friendship that ended only with the Roman musician's death in 1993) on double bass and Roberto Gatto on drums in the limelight, ready to excite by spurring on Urbani's sublime alto.

"A Trane from the East" is one of the most well-known originals from Urbani's pen. Massimo was a spectacular musician, imaginative, he had something to say; others might have at least tried to get closer to Trane's style to "tribute" him, as in these cases it's purely a technical discussion. Massimo was astounding technique, but he was something more: a state of mind, and so you are captivated not by Trane's technique, but by the spirituality, the suggestions communicated by that rainforest sound at dawn, and touched by the sun's rays piercing the twilight of the lush vegetation. The four manage to create a top-tier musical atmosphere, a true journey, an extraordinary alchemy, difficult to replicate. The album is very varied, and even Furio di Castri tries his hand at writing a piece, in this case, "Night Walk", a reflective ballad where Flores's harmonic progressions take center stage, as Luca in such fields had few rivals. Massimo returns as an author with "I Got Rock", a piece at the borders (if not completely transcending) Jazz Rock with Funky strokes by di Castri on the double bass. Gatto is powerful, striking with blows that are authentic lashes. Flores is in a state of grace, with his mood solo highly intense. This piece also received considerable exposure, also because the theme can be heard in a beautiful interview-documentary that Paolo Colangeli dedicated to the Roman musician: "Massimo Urbani nella Fabbrica Abbandonata", available on YouTube and highly recommended viewing. Another gem can be found in the notes of "Star Eyes" also by Cole Porter, in which Massimo and Luca seem to stroll in spring with their instruments. The album concludes with the ballad "Good Morning Heartache" and "Three Little Words", wrapping up without any exhaustion by the finish line, thanks to the driving force of the preceding five gems.

What can I say, buy it, and let your ears and your soul experience this little gem by Massimo Urbani, one who left us far, far, far too soon, but fortunately, had a lot to say nonetheless.