# CD review: Pierluigi Balducci – L’equilibrista 2020: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2020/06/11/pierluigi-balducci-lequilibrista/
- Published: 2020-06-11T14:07:56+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Produced by Dodicilune, distributed in Italy and abroad by Ird and in the best
online stores by Believe Digital, L’equilibrista, the new recording project by Pierluigi
Balducci. **

In the seven original songs, the Apulian composer and bassist is joined by three
interesting musicians from the European jazz scene: the Italian-Canadian Robert 
Bonisolo, tenor sax giant, Fabrizio Savino, Bari guitarist of great artistic sensitivity,
and Dario Congedo, Salento drummer with extraordinary talent. “The album is dedicated
to the British pianist John Taylor,” underlines Balducci. «A point of reference 
for me and for many other European musicians, John honored me with his presence 
in my quartet with Paul McCandless and Michele Rabbia until his death in 2014 and
on the Blue from heaven (2012) and Evansiana (2017) records , always out for Dodicilune.
His being “always on the wire” inspired, in fact, the title of my new album ».

The equilibrist proposes new compositions, new sound, new energy, in the name of
a redesigned balance between the improvised and the written element. The idea, precisely,
of balance as something dynamic and tensive, in which creative effort is implicit,
balance as a concept that is not at all opaque, flat or normalizing, has always 
fascinated Balducci: if you choose the path of the unexpected , of the unheard of,
of the surprising as the substance of jazz, it is easy to “fall off the thread”,
but the risk itself is essential in the game of improvisation.

The record is dedicated to the British pianist John Taylor, says Balducci. «A point
of reference for me and for many other European musicians, John honored me with 
his presence in my quartet with Paul McCandless and Michele Rabbia until his death
in 2014 and on the albums” Blue from heaven “(2012) and” Evansiana “(2017), always
released for Dodicilune. His being” always on the wire “inspired, in fact, the title
of my new album».

“The equilibrist” offers new compositions, new sound, new energy, in the name of
a redesigned balance between the improvised and the written element. The idea of​​
balance as something dynamic and tensive, in which creative effort is implicit, 
balance as a concept that is not at all opaque, flat or normalizing, has always 
fascinated Balducci: if you choose the path of the unexpected , of the unheard of,
of the surprising as a substance of jazz making, it is easy to “fall off the thread”,
but the risk itself is essential in the game of improvisation.

“The first song Blackarera sounds like an unusual mix of Argentine folk dance, the
chacarera and the harmonies close to the 60s of Hancock and Shorter,” says Balducci.«
The vicious is one of my dedications to my colleague and bassist friend Viz Maurogiovanni:
a composition with an articulated and unusual narrative structure, characterized
by a large, imposing, very” Italian “melody. The equilibrist “, continues the bassist,”
is a song written for John Taylor and already recorded in a trio with the English
pianist and drummer Michele Rabbia (Blue from Heaven – 2012), this song is the musical
representation of walking on the wire, of that bet with the unknown which is the
substance of jazz and the game of improvisation. Taylor is one of the greatest “
equilibrists” that jazz has ever had. As an “evansian” », continues the Apulian 
composer», I love ternary times. In Until proven otherwise the fairly pressing harmonies
of the theme of this waltz jazz are then dilated and enlarged, becoming the harmonic
canvas for the solos. Kosmos and chaos is instead a composition that has an energetic
rhythmic engine, with time in 5/4 and some unexpected events in 3/4. The philosophical
title of this song summarizes a relationship of love vital to the jazz experience
of making music: that between opposites of order and chaos. Monet “, explains Balducci”
is a passage suspended between colorism and modality, impressionist also in the 
title. Lastly, the Wormhole, the title of the closing song, is a sort of space-time
tunnel capable of shortening the distances between the inconceivable sidereal distances.
The quartet interacts creating a sort of vortex, a spiral of progressive tension,
in which to involve the listener “.

„Bass player and composer among the most active of the Italian jazz scene, Pierluigi
Balducci has performed on the stages of festivals and jazz clubs in Italy, Europe
and all over the world, collaborating with musicians such as Ernst Reijseger, Robert
Bonisolo, Luciano Biondini, Gabriele Mirabassi, Javier Girotto, Michele Rabbia, 
Antonio Tosques, John Taylor, Roberto Ottaviano, Paul McCandless, Maurizio Brunod,
Vincenzo Maurogiovanni, Marta Raviglia and many others. He is currently a member
of the Amori Sospesi trio, with Gabriele Mirabassi and Nando Di Modugno. He has 
live performances for radio broadcasters such as Rai Radio3, the Austrian ORF, the
Korean MBC and the German Bayerischer Rundfunk. As leader and composer, he released
several albums on his behalf; in the years 2000/2005 he released three leading records
with Peppo Spagnoli’s Splasc (h) Records label. Since 2006 he is an artist of the
Dodicilune. Rai Radio3 interviewed him in June 2017 dedicating an episode of Radio3
Suite to the “Evansiana” album, while the magazines Musica Jazz and Jazzit often
dedicated extensive interviews to him. His records have been frequently reviewed
by the specialized Italian and foreign press. The “Jazzit Award” promoted by Jazzit
magazine has included it for many years in the top ten of the best Italian electric
jazz bassists. It is an endorser of the prestigious Italian brands Markbass, Meridian
Guitars and the classic Dieter Hopf basses. He teaches bass guitar and improvisation
techniques at the Matera Conservatory. With “L’equilibrista” he continues his collaboration
with Dodicilune after “Leggero” (2006), “Stupor Mundi” (2009), the two works “Blue
from heaven” (2012) and “Evansiana” (2017) with the quartet. completed by John Taylor,
Paul McCandless and Michele Rabbia, “Amori. suspended “(2015) with Gabriele Mirabassi
and Nando Di Modugno,” Cinema, Volume 1 “with Vincenzo” Viz “Maurogiovanni and participation
in the” Synopsis “projects of Antonio Tosques Quartet (2007),” Galantuomini “by 
Gabriele Rampino (2009 ) and “My Waits. Tom Waits Songbook” by singer Serena Spedicato(
2012).

The Dodicilune label, founded and led by Gabriele Rampino (artistic director) and
Maurizio Bizzochetti (label manager) has been active since 1996 and has a catalog
of over 250 productions by Italian and foreign artists. Distributed in stores in
Italy and abroad by IRD, Dodicilune discs can also be purchased online, listened
to and downloaded on the world’s major platforms thanks to Believe Digital.

01. Blackarera
 02. Il vizioso 03. L’equilibrista 04. Fino a prova contraria 05.
Kosmos and Chaos 06. Monet 07. Wormhole

![Pierluigi Balducci - L'equilibrista (2020)](https://i0.wp.com/www.dibpic.com/uploads/
posts/2020-06/1591732922_cover.jpg?resize=563%2C563&ssl=1)

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