Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Giuseppe Millaci: Songbook

Giuseppe Millaci: Songbook

By Troy Dostert
December 4, 2017
View read count

On his debut recording, Songbook, Italian bassist

Giuseppe Millaci

bass
b.1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Giuseppe Millaci displays a healthy share of confidence and panache. And with a mature compositional voice and the help of well-chosen bandmates in pianist

Amaury Faye

piano
b.1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Amaury Faye and drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Beuvens, Millaci offers some fine music worthy of gaining a wider audience.

The album's title might be a bit misleading for those expecting a revisiting-the-standards concept, as eight of the nine pieces are Millaci's, the only classic being

Hoagy Carmichael

piano
1899 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark," given a lovely rendition to close the record. But the careful attention to melody and structure that characterizes Millaci's writing definitely puts the emphasis on the pieces as songs. The memorable tune at the heart of the album's opener, "Nostalgia Op. 1" is a case in point, with a lyrical, almost folk-like quality that makes room for compelling solos from Millaci and Faye as the track unfolds. Reflective and deliberately-paced, this isn't an album likely to be enjoyed by listeners requiring a lot of muscular soloing to sustain their interest, as Millaci clearly wants his audience to pause and savor each track for its subtler pleasures. "Travel To," the album's third cut, is a good example: with a gentle waltz tempo and another resonant melody, the objective isn't to overwhelm, but rather to invite the listener into the music.

Despite the general restraint shown throughout the album, all three players have a terrific rapport, not to mention some excellent chops, displayed especially whenever they take the music in unexpected directions. The best example, fittingly enough, would be the record's strongest track, "Unknown Land." With an understated air of mystery supplied by Faye's repeated chords and Millaci's well-played arco, the music builds skillfully in intensity before transitioning into a driving midsection that allows Faye to stretch out over an energetic 7/4 groove generated by Beuvens and complemented enthusiastically by Millaci. It's an enticing glimpse of how this promising trio might be able to develop their sound further on upcoming projects. But Songbook is certainly a welcome start.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Nostalgia Op. 1; Imagining The Fourth Dimension; Travel To; Unknown Land; Song For Clarice; Crazy Night, Lazy Day; Room 317; Lollipop; Skylark.

Personnel

Giuseppe Millaci

bass

Amaury Faye

piano

Lionel Beuvens

drums

Giuseppe Millaci: doublebass; Amaury Faye: piano; Lionel Beuvens: drums.

Album information

Title: Songbook | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Hypnote Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

36th International Tampere Jazz Happ...
< Previous

Ellipse
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.