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Eddie Gomez: Per Sempre

By Dan Bilawsky
May 24, 2012
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Bassist Eddie Gomez has never received the attention he deserves as a leader. While that's largely due to the fact that he spends so much time making other people sound better, the reason isn't important; it's an injustice, regardless of the cause. His pliant and flexible bass has been the binding agent and rhythmic-melodic-harmonic go-between responsible for bolstering the work of pianists like

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea and

Hank Jones

piano
1918 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Jones, drummers like

Jack DeJohnette

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack DeJohnette and

Steve Gadd

drums
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Gadd, and countless others on every instrument imaginable, but he's also put out his fair share of leader dates that highlight his artistry in more direct fashion.

Gomez has been in the spotlight for well over four decades now, but rarely for his own records; thankfully that seems to be changing. Gomez and pianist

Carlos Franzetti

composer / conductor
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Franzetti scored a Latin Grammy for their Duets (Acqua, 2008), and now, with the release of Per Sempre, Gomez should be getting his due. This eight track program was recorded while Gomez was touring in Italy in the winter of 2009, and the warm sounds on display run counter to the season of the session.

The combination of

Matt Marvuglio

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Marvuglio's flute and

Marco Pignataro

saxophone
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Marco Pignataro's saxophone is responsible for the glowing quality in the melodic design of this work, but the rhythm section is responsible for molding the shape of each piece. Gomez, pianist Teo Ciavarella and drummer Massimo Manzi make the music expand and contract in Evans-esque fashion, as they draw concentric circles around one another that come into singular focus or spread out as needed. Nothing simply arrives; it evolves in turns.

Gomez-as-melodist is a sound to behold. His arco work is elegant, yet mournful, and his pizzicato work stretches the very fabric of sound. While his soloing-with-vocalizing—�� la

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett—may not be everybody's cup of tea, it serves as a window into his well-focused mind's eye.

A consistent vibe is felt throughout the majority of the album, but each song contains different treasures. "Arianna" is notable for the leader's soloing, "Why Cry?" contains a joyously flighty flute spot, "Forever" features some suave, out-front tenor work from Pignataro and "Homesick" is a stylistic detour, with Spanish seasonings and Argentine allusions. Per Sempre is a pure expression of organic musical dialogue that may go a long way in helping to put Gomez on a pedestal...and he deserves nothing less.

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Track Listing

Arianna; Bologna D'Inverno; Why Cry?; Forever; Pops & Alma; Stella By Starlight; Homesick; Epilogue.

Personnel

Eddie Gomez

bass

Eddie Gomez: bass; Marco Pignataro: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Matt Marvuglio: flute; Teo Ciavarella: piano; Massimo Manzi: drums.

Album information

Title: Per Sempre | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: BFM Jazz

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