| Jazz |
As always, our friends at A.MA Records have truly indulged us, this time with an album that, in my view, makes a delightful gift for the upcoming holiday season—a true treat for jazz lovers among your friends. This album follows “Tales From Within,” released in 2018, which received an excellent reception from critics and audiences alike. The artist, a self-taught saxophonist who began playing in clubs in 1982, possesses an extraordinary talent and has had the opportunity to share the stage with some of the greatest jazz artists: Paolo Fresu, John Arnold, Paolo Damiani, Tony Formichella, Cicci Santucci, Heddie Henderson, Wendall Brunious, Antonello Salis, Riccardo Fassi, Claudio and Mario Corvini, Xavier Girotto, Fabrizio Bosso, Luca Bulgarelli, Jimmy Haslip, Sarah Jane Morris, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and countless others. His sound graces numerous albums, reflecting his sought-after status; his tone and inspirations, drawn from diverse musical genres, make him a prized artist. An incomplete list of albums includes: Pop/NuJazz: *Papik – Rhythm of Life*, *Papik – Music Inside*, *Papik – Sounds for the Open Road*, *Papik – Cocktail Mina*, *Papik – Cocktail Martino*, *Papik – Cocktail Battisti*, *Papik – Little Songs for Big Elevators*, *Ely Bruna – Remember the Time*, *Ely Bruna – Elixir*, *Ely Bruna – Synesthesia*, *Matteo Branc – Just Smile*, *Papik presents Fabio Tullio – Cocktail Sax*, *Anonimo Italiano – L’infinito dentro noi*, *Amanda Lear – Brief Encounters*, *Alessandro Pitoni – Le Sere di Sempre*, *Alessandro Pitoni – In Love Again*, *Neja – Neja Vu*, *Zast – Nebuloso* (as leader), *Cosmo Intini – Seeing the Cosmic feat. Paolo Fresu*, *Andrea Avena – Pithecanthropus Erectus*, *CJC Plus Antonello Salis Playing Zawinul*, *Marta Capponi – In a Moment feat. F. Bosso and X. Girotto*, and *Fabio Tullio – Tales from Within*.
In 2018, we were not yet acquainted with Antonio Martino, founder of A.MA Records, so unfortunately, we missed out on that previous album. But with the first notes of this new release, we find ourselves captivated by an album of exceptional quality. Fabio Tullio, tenor and soprano saxophonist, invites us on an exploration of jazz’s spiritual and improvisational dimensions. Inspired by quantum relationships and the concept of entanglement between particles, *Entanglements* is an album that captures the experience of uniting musicians to create something entirely new. This concept shines through in the two standout tracks on this seven-track album: the opener, *Don’t Forget*, and the concluding piece, *Untitled Spiritual*. The first track captures a moment of zeitgeist with folk-jazz sensibilities and the evocative, floating voice of Marta Capponi. The final track takes on a more spiritual approach to jazz, with Fabio’s saxophone leading the ensemble to a melodious conclusion where saxophone and voice entwine with layered rhythms. Perhaps the album’s concept is best captured by Fabio himself, who says, “After all, music and mathematics have been intertwined since their origins. Here, entanglement, as a fundamental process of musical creation (especially in jazz), reflects complex themes and melodic lines that pass from one instrument to another, intertwine, diverge, and come back together, inviting improvisation, each seeking the other in a creative yet structured entanglement.”
Warm atmospheres draw us in, with melodies that linger effortlessly, making one feel at home in this environment. The album, benefiting from A.MA’s hallmark of high-quality mixing and intelligent, warm arrangements, is one that all jazz enthusiasts can enjoy regardless of their favored style. Yet this isn’t a chameleon album striving to please everyone; rather, it’s made with heart for true lovers of beautiful music. It earns a well-deserved spot at the top of 2024’s “Essentials” pile.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, October 27th 2024
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