Paolo Fresu Quintet
Kosmopolites

A musical journey.

The "Paolo Fresu Quintet" has a history spanning over twenty years, having been founded back in 1984 during the recording of its first album ("Ostinato" - Splasc(h) records). In these two decades, the quintet led by the trumpet player from Berchidda has progressively established itself at the most prestigious international jazz festivals, demonstrating a rare and precious artistic vitality, reaching today the inauguration of a new chapter in its history with the recording of the album "Kosmopolites" for the prestigious label "Blue Note". But this is not just a simple debut for a new record label. "Kosmopolites," in fact, represents the first in a series of five albums, each of which will be dedicated to the music written by one of the group members. In this case, the Quintet performs the compositions of pianist Bruno Cipelli, with only one exception being "Lascia ch'io pianga" by Georg Friedrich Händel.

The project that stems from "Kosmopolites" appears, therefore, important and ambitious, especially since the realization of the other four albums is planned over the next three years. But the ensemble's debut is sparkling, vibrant, elegant, evocative, and bodes well for the future. The listening experience, in fact, is truly marvelous and demonstrates how, after twenty years of musical experiences, the Quintet manages to convey a harmony and cohesion that renders their musical refinement unmistakable. The music is, therefore, a true amalgamation of sounds blending naturally, reflecting the artistic personalities of the performers: Fresu's passionate trumpet thus combines with Cipelli's delicate piano, Fioravanti's rhythmic drums, Tracanna's harmonious sax, and Zanchi's profound bass. Energy, sweetness, melancholy, and rhythm alternate and unite for fourteen tracks in which Cipelli, as the music's author, highlights what is "indispensable in his personal vision of music: the melody".

A record, then, to listen to and re-listen to, capable of evoking wonder more than once from track to track, up to its beautiful closure that deserves a separate mention. The marvelous aria already mentioned from Händel's Rinaldo is indeed the perfect conclusion for this work, not only because it retains all its incredible beauty in the Quintet's interpretation, but also because it sends more than one shiver down your spine, demanding an immediate re-hearing of the track.

In summary, Kosmopolites is a lovely musical journey through sounds and people; it's the first leg of a journey worth taking, as it promises to be beautiful and full of surprises.