Nido Workshop - Nido Workshop [dEN Records]

Nido Workshop:

Francesco Chiapperini - bass clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, compositions

Filippo Cozzi - tenor saxophone

Vito Emanuele Galante - trumpet, flutes, compositions

Luca Pissavini - double bass, compositions

Paolo Benzoni - drums, percussions

dEN Records 2012

The idea of workshop band goes straight back to Charles Mingus who would've stop the band in the middle of the song,  make the musicians retry the intro, tempo change or the solo. Jazz music gives you no "definitive" performances, each take can bring new meanings and perspective to the composition - which is why the idea of a "workshop" applies perfectly to any jazz band - meaning the the creative/learning process should be never terminated. Nido Workshop are five italian musicians that describe their meetings as "exchange / clash of ideas" and, the way I undestand it, they refer to an ongoing process.

The cd starts with a short but very catchy "Ti Auguro Ognibene" with a nice horns and bass unisono line, powerfull and simple.  "Stifelius" has wonderfully joyfull New Orlean feal to it - marching rhythm and all instruments soloing just slightly off the main melody. "Lyric for Dim" alternates beetwen the solemn long notes and dramatic, tense rhythm. "Composizione n2" shifts between pensieve and quirk circus melody. "Cherry Tane" swings through the first half at variety of tempos, furious to begin with the tenor sax, nonchalant with the trumpet and flute solos, the mood changes midway to a meditative mantra, based on a simple arco bass line. The cd ends with the uplifting, sunny and soulfull "Tramonti" ("Sunsets") in the spiritual vein of Alice Coltrane music.  

The music played jumps between Mingus, Monk, New Orlean, Sun Ra Arkestra, Alice Coltrane, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and others. Big sound, catchy tunes, passionate soloing (special kudos to roaring Emanuele Galante's trumpet and huge tone of Luca Pissavini's bass). They don't break open any new doors, they don't reinvent the jazz circle but there's plenty of honest joy and energy on the record to make it wonderfully enjoyable ride.

The workshop formula means also that the compositions and the line-up can be subjected to any number of changes - below you can find two clips, first adds Marco Motta on baritone, the second one features Livio Minafra on piano. I definitely hope Nido Workshop will continue expanding.