The Fabrizio Sciacca Quartet – Gettin’ It There – [TrackList follows] – Self-released, 44:12 [9/1/19] ****:
(Fabrizio Sciacca – acoustic bass; Donald Vega – acoustic piano; Billy Drummond – drums; Jed Levy – saxophone (tracks 3, 6, 7)
There’s a new jazz bassist that fans of straightforward, standardized jazz should check out. That would be Italian born Fabrizio Sciacca, who has been based in New York City since 2015. The 44-minute Gettin’ It There is Sciacca’s self-released debut and shows the young bassist has a refined, old-school jazz inclination. On this recording date Sciacca is joined by another young jazz artist, Venezuelan pianist Donald Vega (also now living in NYC), veteran drummer Billy Drummond (Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Carla Bley, more) and guest saxophonist Jed Levy (heard on three tracks, including one of his compositions).
Sciacca balances covers from Elmo Hope, Sonny Clark and bassist Sam Jones with some originals (including Sciacca’s tribute to his mentor, Ron Carter). For the most part Gettin’ It There is a collection of low-key, late-night jazz, the kind of material one might hear in an intimate jazz lounge with craft beer on tap and a bartender who knows how to prepare a good Manhattan. Sciacca doesn’t create music which will tear the house down or make anyone rave to friends, but his sincere, honest music is candid, direct and clear-cut. And sometimes that’s what is called for.
Sciacca commences with Jones’ homage “One for Amos” (from Jones’ 1975 LP, Seven Minds). This smoking trio rendition is a commendable opener since it showcases Drummond’s exquisite percussive style (he gets lots of room in this nearly five-minute piece), displays Sciacca’s effective and fine bass and Vega’s discerning piano artistry. The lengthiest tune is a slowly-churned, almost nine-minute translation of the pop standard, “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square.” Sciacca states in the CD liner notes, “The first version of this ballad I ever heard was from a duo of pianist Michel Petrucciani and bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. I fell in love with the beautiful interpretation of the melody played by the Danish bass player.” That adaptation, by the way, comes from Pedersen’s 1992 release, Uncharted Land. It’s obvious from hearing “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square” that Sciacca hasn’t forgotten that moment as he echoes Pedersen’s genial aspects (but not Pedersen’s sublime efficacy, which is hard to match), while Drummond shifts to soft cymbals and brushes and Vega supplies lingering notes on his piano. Sciacca seems to have a penchant for ballads and other quieter material. Another memorable piece is the seven-minute “Lullaby in Central Park,” penned especially for this project by Sciacca’s friend and fellow Italian jazz performer, Andrea Domenici. It’s reminiscent of the tranquil walk through the famed urban park which inspired Domenici to compose this 3/4-time track. On the other hand, Sciacca’s sole original—a popping tribute to Ron Carter called “For Sir Ron”—has a bouncy and enjoyable romp.
The three quartet offerings with Levy (who has worked with Cedar Walton, Curtis Fuller and Eddie Henderson) are a delight. Levy has a warm, unobtrusive tenor sax tone which is well situated during Clark’s “Zellmar’s Delight” (from Clark’s final date as a leader, 1962’s Leapin’ and Lopin’) which has a swiftly-paced, boppish quality. Levy imparts some sunny contributions to his own composition, the tenderly-inclined and extended “Lonely Goddess,” where there is pleasant dialogue between sax and piano, and where the bass and drums foment a flowing, gauzy rhythmic foundation. The quartet closes the CD with a zippy take of Hope’s “One Second Please,” an obscure tune which deserves to be played more often. The original can be found on Harold Land’s 1960 record, The Fox (Hope was the featured pianist on that album). The quartet does a good job of revisiting Hope’s musical vision and re-invigorating one of Hope’s overlooked pieces.
A return-to-roots approach from a young bassist.
TrackList:
One for Amos
Lullaby in Central Park
Zellmar’s Delight
For Sir Ron
A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
Lonely Goddess
One Second Please
—Doug Simpson
