Fast Forward

How much creative potential may a jazz trio unlock?  Almost unlimited, if it is fascinating and multifaceted like that led by Federico Casagrande on guitar, who flawlessly works out an intriguing sonic journey.  Nine stages worth exploring, nine original tracks by Casagrande that already hold an appeal during their enlightened, fertile compositional process and are shaped through diverse forms of interaction among the guitar, Joe Sanders’ bass (and double bass) and Ziv Ravitz’s drums. The instrumental intertwining proves beneficial: an actual ad-libbed treasure trove of themes, harmonies and rhythms, an insightful expressive power pursued forcefully and consistently, even in the variety of ensuing moods.  An amazingly passionate, refined acoustic guitar-playing can be listened to in two small gems of artistry, Awakening and Step By Step, the opening and closing tracks, respectively. Between Fast Forward in 7/4 time, that conjures up Led Zeppelin-like rock vibes, and the dreamlike Nantong, in which guitar improvisation is supported by a dense, rolling harmonic and rhythmic background, you will also find seemingly calm tracks with a soft pace but strong harmonic tension. And you may also be surprised by the faint Latin hint in Bozza or the gradually pressing Mixed Feelings.  The common thread in this unique journey is unpredictability: the unpredictability of Jazz played by new generations, an enchanting blend of visionary imagination, with even magnificent passages, and strict musical training.

Recorded in Paris on 3 - 4 July 2016 at Les Studios Saint-Germain  Recording engineer Didier Pouydesseau

Photos by Boris Wilensky

Liner notes by Brian Morton