ASCANIO SCANO - LATIN JAZZ LOUNGE MORROCOY (2006)
ASCANIO SCANO,
piano e tastiere
PAOLO ANDRIOLO, basso e contrabbasso
LEO ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, batteria e timbales
GIUSEPPE BERTOLINO, chitarra elettrica e acustica
GIANNI STEFANI, sax tenore e flauto
MAURIZIO SCOMPARIN, tromba e flicorno
YOEL MILDESTEIN, congas e bongò
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Review by Paul J. Youngman - KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET
Ascanio Scano is an Italian keyboard player, composer and arranger, he has numerous recordings under his belt and has worked with many of the top Latin jazz artists in the world, his most recent recording Morrocoy features his Latin Jazz Lounge big band, actually it’s an octet, but it has a grand sound. The band screams through just over an hours worth of music, eleven tracks, that are generally speaking, straight ahead Latin inspired - jazz fusion tunes. The constants are found in superb percussion and drumming, by Leo Angel Rodriguez and Marco Catinaccio, as well as a rock solid rhythm section, with bass playing duties shared by Pasquale Cosco and Paolo Andriolo, inspired guitar playing by Giuseppe Bertolino is ever present and the keyboard/piano playing of Ascanio Scano.
The fusion referred to is found in the sound and the style of the songs, at times there are reminders of Weather Report. The fusion of Europe meeting Latin America, on its way to North America and back again - all played at a rousing tempo. The keyboard playing of Mr. Scano is somewhat reminiscent of the jazz-rock fusion era keyboard players, Jan Hammer, Joe Zawinul and Greg Emerson come to mind, heavy sustain on synthesized notes and chords, with layers of special effects and sounds that cover an orchestra. The song “Sopeso” opens with a sustained electronic tone creating a funky melody that transitions to an electric piano, thus creating a pleasing, jazz inspired interlude before referring back to the opening melody and letting the bassist add in some J. Pastorious like riffs and leading the song into a nice guitar solo by Mr. Bertolino. The song is just over five minutes in length and features most of the members of the band.
The track with a Latin big band sound “El Pelao” is a foot stomping tune played at a fast tempo; the horn section has some nice arrangements to work with. The percussion playing by Marco Catinaccio is the impetus for creating the marvelous rhythm that makes you want to stamp your foot and get up and dance, excellent playing.
The title track “Morrocoy” has an Afro Cuban - salsa feel, featuring good horn arrangements with some hot trumpet playing by Maurizio Scomparin and solid trombone playing by Mauro Ottolini. The song lets loose with some heavy guitar playing near the end of the tune and finishes with a tight big band sound. The final track of the LP (long playing CD) “1000 Km” continues with another song in the Afro Cuban groove, lots of percussion and intense keyboard playing. The mid section of the song features guitar wailing by Mr. Bertolino that is a welcome respite from the dance grind rhythm that is the pulse of the song. The song is very repetitive and would be a hit with the dance crowd; the keyboards care of Mr. Scano let loose for the later half of the song and bring the party to a climax on an ultra tight glide.
