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Sparks

Sparks - Enja Records - Pasquale Stafano
Release Date: September 24, 2021
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After the great success of the last album “Mediterranean Tales” released by prestigious German studio Enja Records by Matthias Winckelmann in 2020, the Italian pianist and composer Pasquale Stafano presents “Sparks”: a new album played by a new trio. The album will be released on 24th September 2021 by Enja Records. The other two trio’s members are Giorgio Vendola on double bass and Saverio Gerardi on drums, both eclectic and emotionally tuned musicians who manage to create the perfect sound for Pasquale Stafano’s music.

“Sparks” is a metaphor for life. The new album offers a moment of meditation on the world to describe it in a lucid and dreamy way, as when someone admires a painting masterpiece. The multiple emotional experiences, the memories, the recollection of real and imaginative journeys, they all come alive. Everything returns to shine among the engaging sounds like “sparks” that light up and give the taste of time, immersed in sparkling emotions that lead from the frenzy of everyday’ life to the depth of landscapes of the soul.

Recorded in Cavalicco (UD) in Artesuono Recording Studios by award-winning ECM sound engineer Stefano Amerio, this work stands out for its great energy and at the same time for its elegant lyricism, for the really suggestive and passionate melodies that reflect the artistic thought of Pasquale Stafano, passing through contemporary jazz and the Mediterranean melody.

Pasquale Stafano has created his own peculiar style perfectly capable of shape jazz in its various forms of expressions. His compositions, sometimes touching, sometimes sharp, have the unique energy to make his music exciting, communicative and poetic.

 

“Be Spark that lights up life”

 

 

Reviews

“The album is rhythmic and lively, with songs that evokes images written and arranged often in odd-numbered order. An album full of vitality” Hiroki Sugita – Jazz Japan

“Speed ​​and elegance are the trademarks of the Italian pianist Pasquale Stafano. The opener “Sparks”, which gives the album its name, actually lets the sparks fly at breakneck speed, at the same time Stafano maintains the composure.” Rolf Thomas – Jazzthing Magazine N. 141

“Lyricism, odd and articulated metric combinations without being cerebral, art rock hints: the late Esbjorn Svensson would have envied him a lot.” Guido Festinese – Il Manifesto (13/11/2021)

“Dev’essere un sognatore intenso, Pasquale Stafano, di quelli che creano continuamente immagini estraendole dalla fantasia e dando loro la dignità di oggetti reali attraverso la musica. […] Stafano riesce a dare una superba forma artistica a tutto questo tratteggiando un mondo di bellezza lacerante” Riccardo Talamazzi – Off Topic Magazine (IT)

“With Sparks there is certainly the promise of more incendiary music making still to come from Stafano’s impressive new trio.” Ian Patterson – All About Jazz USA (19/11/2021)

“A piano with a beautiful touch dances smoky in a powerful rhythm, and overflowing with gentle beauty tunes.  You can enjoy the finest piano trio performance. Kazune Hayata – Jazz Life Japan

“Una travolgente e impattante ondata di energia sonora, ritmica, sviscerata con palpabile impetuosità comunicativa, vigore interpretativo, in cui non mancano frangenti più serafici, contemplativi, che invitano a una profonda riflessione.” Stefano Dentice – Instruments & Music Magazine (IT)

“The nocturnal lyricism of “Mirror of Soul” and the midnight flare of “Clocks” boldly reflect a confident, skillful, composer at peak awareness of the moment and what it readily demands. If anything broadens the audience for Stafano’s spangling, rhythmic aspects, Sparks will definitely open a lot of ears.” Mike Jurkovic – All About Jazz (8th Jan 2022)

“Stafano is a pianist composer that is very original. In addition to presenting a solid basic structure, the compositions are fragments attributable to progressive-rock. Gerlando Gatto – A proposito di Jazz (22 Jan 2022)

“The music is very structured, written almost like a suite of classical music, there is a melody that attracts and liberates at the same time.” Patrck Spanko – SK Jazz

“The Italian pianist, with this new album makes really sparks from the first to the last note […] It is a successful all-round album with brilliantly arranged original songs” ?????? ????? – Jazz ‘n More Switzerland (March 2022)

If you’re looking for a fresh sound that won’t disappoint then you owe it to yourself to check this jam out now!” Robert Waterson – Honk Magazine (April 2022)