Antonio Borghini

With just the right blend of facility, freedom and farce, Italian bassist Antonio Borghini makes an indelible impression on a leadership disc of his own compositions. Part of the Berlin musical gestalt, part of Die Hochstapler and many other bands Borghini is joined by French saxophonist Pierre Borel, also in Die Hochstapler; British saxophonist/clarinetist Tobias Delius, part of the ICP  Orchestra; Japanese pianist Rieko Okuda, who plays with Axel Dörner; Turkish cellist Anil Eraslan, also a filmmaker and Australian drummer Steve Heather, who is in numerous configurations.

The international make-up doesn’t significantly affect the performances, while compositions include a high level of unselfconscious jollity and festive good humor. Meantime instrumental prowess extends to quick jump cuts among multiple styles with polyphonic references to swing, Bop and marching bands. Making common cause with bouncy lines from both saxophonists, Okuda’s extensions include foot tapping motions that reference honky-tonk as well as harmonies, percussive clips and melody sutures. Together the horns create variations on big band section vamps or keep up broken octave continuum despite abrasive passages of screams, doits, screams and slurs.  The fulcrum of double bass pulsations, slides and spiccato jabs from both string players add to the drama. Yet on slower tracks like “Lobster Promenade”, Eraslan and Borghini combine for arco cushioning behind Delius’ shift from double-tongued yelps to breathy ballad playing.

Among the sextet’s melodic and rhythmic transformations are tunes like “Second Dialogue” and “Parade” which change identity as they evolve. The former widens and contracts as protracted variations give way to theme recapping. On the latter a cymbal crash signals a tempo shift from andante to allegro to presto, attaining country dance suggestions while maintain the linear theme.

The concluding “A Banquet Song” melds tiny particles of single-string scratches, thick bass stops, vivid keyboard splashes and understated horn riffing, to end with a lusty singalong variant of  “Glory, Glory Hallelujah”. The lyrics about “walking hand in hand” could apply to the interactive playing on this session and the collaboration that affirm why the disc is outstanding.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. The Flop 2. First Dialogue 3. Umfundisi 4. Lobster Promenade 5. Second Dialogue 6. Parade 7. Third Dialogue 8. A Banquet Song

Personnel: Pierre Borel (alto saxophone); Tobias Delius (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Rieko Okuda (piano); Anil Eraslan (cello);  Antonio Borghini (bass) and Steve Heather (drums)