Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Federico Ughi: Songs For Four Cities

Federico Ughi: Songs For Four Cities

By Mark Corroto
May 27, 2012
View read count

Drummer/composer

Federico Ughi

drums
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Federico Ughi presents a collection of songs dedicated to four cities in which he has lived and that have made an impact on his music. His gentle and beautiful approach bridges European and American jazz, but mostly it filters the current New York scene through a silky translucent gauze.

This album of music (explain to your kids that, at one time, artists recorded collections of music and not just singles) maintains a consistent dialogue between the players, the melodies, and the improvisation.

Ughi chose an interesting lineup to fashion his statement. He combined the ferocity of saxophonist

Darius Jones

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Darius Jones (Little Women,

Mike Pride

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Pride's From Bacteria To Boys) with the classically trained jazz convertpianist

Eri Yamamoto

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Eri Yamamoto, and impeccable bassist

Ed Schuller

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Schuller (

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian) to create a hybrid quartet.

Ughi's previous duets with Yamamoto on the pianist's Duologue (AUM Fidelity, 2008) might have been a clue to what to expect on this session. His pieces are full of bright melodies ("Tolmin"), bits of nostalgic contemplations ("Through You") and drawn-out blues ("Shadow Remover," "Uno Fa Tanto"). Ughi's ability to pull cogent music out of somewhat over-sentimental pieces is a tribute to his arranging and this extraordinary band.

Jones' saxophone opens "White" with a

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane-like incantation. Schuller's bowed lines and Ughi's tom-tom work summon an exploratory sense. Yamamoto's stilted piano tapping charges the piece with a direction outward while, without giving up the melody, the band just barely holds back the fury. Such is the charm of this session: each piece has the opportunity for exploration and a journey out but, remarkably, never boils over.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Tolmin; When We Cry; Through You; Pasolini the Painter; Claygate; Shadow Remover; Uno Fa Tanto; White.

Personnel

Federico Ughi

drums

Darius Jones: alto saxophone; Eri Yamamoto: piano; Ed Schuller: bass; Federico Ughi: drums.

Album information

Title: Songs For Four Cities | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Skycap Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Rolling Stones' Some Girls in So...
< Previous

Rory Gallagher: Top Priority
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.