Gardenia
Sonica Botanica, 2023
9/10
The Italian artist Giovanni Dal Monte (aka La Jovenc) is aligned with Alessandro Petrillo (aka Nei Shi) for these highly adventurous 10 songs that pay homage to Billie Holiday, and bring electronic ideas into the jazz sounds.
“Don’t Explain” opens the listen with Jovenc’s deep voice and dense bass amid Dario Mazzucco’s soft drums in the mysterious atmosphere, and “He’s Funny That Way” follows with Shi’s warm, meticulous guitar playing alongside the poetic singing and playful electronics.
Further along, “Big Stuff” welcomes Fabio Landi’s well timed Midi data skills that helps give the album a very distinct sort of melody, while “Come Rain Or Come Shine” brings Mazzucco’s drums back for the calm grooves of the soulful album highlight.
Residing near the end, Luca Bonucci’s piano and Henrique Molinario’s doublebass make for a rich and timeless version of jazz via “Ain’t Nobody Business If I Do”. and “I’ve Got It Bad (And Ain’t That Good)” exits with an emotive and bare display of folk ideas, where Jovenc’s stirring voice is met with agile acoustic guitar.
La Jovenc handles vocals, electronics, bass, electronic drums and samples, and Nei Shi manipulates guitar, electronics, bass, samples and phototheremin. Together, along with their guests, they retain the spirit of Holiday’s work, but with plenty of modern electronica and a very avant-garde vision that is both unpredictable and exciting.
Travels well with: Giovanni Dal Monte- Anestetico V1 & V2; Pulsar Ensemble- Bizarre City