Orange Room

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Our favorite drink is the orange juice.
Artwork by càrola ghilardi www.carolaghilardi.com
"E Adesso che glielo dice ai tanto celebrati campioni del jazz italiano che c’è un wild bunch di giovani musicisti che sta arrivando in città, annunciati dal sollevarsi della polvere in lontananza? Guidata dal baritonista Beppe Scardino, Orange Room è una band fantastica: tre ance, vibrafono, contrabbasso e batteria a lavorare con un furore creativo di altri tempi. Ci sono intrecci di fiati dal sapore hemphilliano, una brezza noir cui l’ironia non toglie la forza eversiva, la capacità (rara oggidì) di imprimere al suono collettivo un’impronta personale, solisti ispirati (Pasquale Mirra al vibrafono, lo stesso Scardino, Francesco Bigoni al tenore e Piero Bittolo Bon al contralto, Antonio Borghini al contrabbasso e il giovanissimo Federico Scettri alla batteria) e temi che si scompongono e ricompongono come i sentimenti di una notte d’estate. Il futuro del jazz di casa nostra passa di qui. Ne riparleremo presto." (valutazione 8/10) Enrico Bettinello, (apparso su Blow Up 115 – Dicembre 2007)
REVIEW BY DOWNTOWM MUSIC GALLERY, NEW YORK: ORANGE ROOM - Orange Room (El Gallo Rojo 314-17; Italy) Featuring Beppe Scardino on bari sax & all compositions, Francesco Bigoni on tenor sax, Piero Bittolo on alto sax, Pasquale Mirra on vibes, Antonio Borghini on double bass and Federico Scettri on drums. Considering that I was not previously familiar with any of the musicians in this fine sextet, both Mikey & I were completely flaggerghasted! The three-sax frontline is particularly strong, tight and spirited. The rhythm team of vibes, acoustic bass and drums is also superb throughout. "Unexpected 27" is an unexpected delight. The first sax solo just erupts and is followed by an incredible, furious vibes solo and bass solo. "Rapina A Mano Disarmata" brings things down to a slower pace with lush harmonies for saxes and vibes. The title piece is the longest track and is even slower and filled with suspense. The bari sax and drums play an intense duo together before the rest of the sextet joins them for an impressive, tight ensemble section. The other saxes also take strong solos while the rhythm teams swirls around them. What I like most about these pieces is that they are episodic: the pieces evolve as different members solo. There is restless, exciting quality to all of the pieces. On "Orange Room Symphony," the vibes takes the first long solo while the sextet flows and swings in waves around him. Later all of the saxes solo together in a powerful yet tight eruption of free spirits. While the rhythm team plays this one repeating phrase on "Venus," the saxes play a series of rich, chamber-like harmonies, which are both free yet centered by the bari's deep, dark tone. Beppe's delightful Gerry Mulligan-like baritone is featured on "Livorno," along with more thoughtful, laid-back solos and superb vibes. This is yet another winner from an unknown Italian sextet. - BLG