Umberto Fiorentino - Wordless Song (2019)

Melody, lyricism and a strong harmonic research that opens the way to contemporary electronics and jazz. This is how "Wordless Song" appears, the second album bearing the signature of the two master guitarists Umberto Fiorentino and Fabio Zeppetella released on December 24, 2019 for the Emme Record Label. A project that undoubtedly represents an evolution of the previous "Variations and Metamorphosis Themes", a tribute to one of the Fathers of the Jazz guitar, the American musician Jim Hall. Wordless Song compared to the previous one adds some new elements that offer further dynamism, opening the way to music with "contemporary" features. The main feature undoubtedly remains the melodic research that develops through the dialogue between the two guitars, true protagonists of each song. A Mediterranean jazz, therefore, elegant and refined to which are added moments of complete abandonment to improvisation, moments in which electronics opens the way to experimentation, moments in which the baritone guitar enriches the composition and harmonic research. All this without neglecting the strong interplay between Fabio Zeppetella and Umberto Fiorentino who combine tradition and experimentation while maintaining that melodic taste that has always distinguished them.
Wordless Song opens with Waiting, a song with a vaguely "Latin" flavor that immediately highlights the dialogue between the two guitars. Allegro is, instead, a composition with more classic shades that binds this world to a melodic jazz with Mediterranean features. Glass in a Bottle is a song that, while maintaining fidelity to the duo's melodic research, opens the way to electronics and contemporary jazz. With Dog on a Blue Carpet, with more melancholic hues, we return to a more traditional music that once again highlights the harmonic intertwining and the interplay between the two guitars. Similar speech for My Sweet Gio that stands out once again for the melodic sense of the two guitarists. Rain November Today is a composition in which electronics return to play a leading role and where the improvisational flair of the duo is also highlighted. With the name of the number we return to a jazz permeated with lyricism, while Yellow Song stands as a bridge between tradition and experimentation, thanks to the presence of electronics that once again exalts the compositional qualities of the two guitarists. Around a Turn, in which the baritone guitar is present, closes the album once again highlighting the improvisational and compositional qualities of two masters of Italian jazz. On this record, in fact, Fabio Zeppetella and Umberto Fiorentino dialogue perfectly, keeping an eye always open to contemporary jazz and new trends.