GIRO DI VALZER PER DOMANI

"Giro de Valzer per Domani" is the sophomore release by Arti + Mestieri. It is a transitional album since it has a couple of sung tracks (with Gianfranco Gaza filling the lead singer's role) that frontally announce the band's growing decision to pursue a musical direction a bit closer to mainstream-related jazz-rock, while still bearing a high predominance of complex jazz-prog. The fact is that this album is not intended to match or reiterate the valiant energy of their debut masterpiece "Tilt", but it is certainly more focused on enhancing the band's melodic terrain, augmenting the Mediterranean feel in a very noticeable way. The jazz core now strays a bit away from the Mahavishnu influence in favor of a stronger relatedness to the compatriot ensemble Perigeo. Drummer Chirico, as usual, steals the show with his magnetic pyrotechnics, while the interactions and alternations between the guitar, violin and sax (or clarinet) lead the way for the development of the instrumental sections' melodic bases. 'Valzer per Domani' kicks off the album with a warm colorfulness provided by the paired violin and clarinet, while Chirico goes on rolling until the very last second. Its hook is brilliant enough as to remain constant in the listener's mind despite the fact that it only lasts a bit more than 2 minutes. 'Mirafiori' follows, stating that sort of energy and consistence that have made it a true A+M live staple. The elegantly elaborated jams around a basic motif are expanded enough as to reveal the band's essential versatility, but still there is some kind of constraint that keeps things from becoming overwhelming. The sequence of tracks 4 to 6 is also a great example of what this band can achieve when they are determined to create sonic excitement: a special mention goes to the most intense passages of 'De Nord a Sud'. 'Saper Sentire' is the first track with Gaza on the frontline: it is kind of funky, and Venegoni plays a bluesy guitar solo with a happy mood in the interlude. 'Mescal'/'Mescalero' reiterates the band's gusto for jazz-oriented frenzy with a strong melodic twist - this duo doesn't even hit the 3 minute mark, but it really smokes from beginning to end. Now that we are getting to the album's latter half, things remain pretty much the same - great exercises on groovy jazz-rock (tracks 9, 11-13, 16) and a lighter, catchier approach in the Gaza-sung pieces (tracks 10 & 14). There is also 'Marilyn', a diverse composition in a melancholic piano motif and its latter reprise are separated by a vibrant free-form exercise, featuring wild drum rolls, eerie soprano sax lines and Spartan clavinet chords. The warm colors of 'Terminal' serve as a refined, beautiful epilogue to the album, although I wish it had been expanded for a longer duration; anyway, it is a lovely piece that exemplifies the melodic drive that A+M have been focusing on throughout the entire album. Not as brilliant or as challenging as "Tilt", but definitely, "Giro di Valzer per Domani" is an excellent A+M item in any good prog collection.