Midtown Walk
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The multi-instrumentalist and composer Francesco Amenta returns with his 2nd album as bandleader, as he and Cyrus Chestnut (piano), Kimon Karoutzos (bass) and Gary Kerkezou (drums), deliver tunes that relate to his life in the United States since 2017, when Amenta moved to New York City from Italy.
The pop friendly “Dancing” starts the listen with a lively, rich display of frisky drumming, soulful sax and elegant keys as beauty and playfulness meet at a very exciting intersection, and “Home” continues with an initially calmer pace of strong sax prowess alongside deft piano that builds into an animated, blues fueled climate.
At the halfway point, “Number 9” emits divine interplay between the quartet that’s both busy and restrained, while “6/22” burns slow with much beauty in the ballad oriented setting. “Travelers”, one of the record’s best, then glides at a brisk pace of sublime sax acrobatics amid swift drumming and key acrobatics.
“Burgundy 45” and Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” finish the listen, where the former swings with a bouncy intensity that’s quite modern in its charm, and the latter spends 12 minutes mesmerizing us with a dreamy, heartfelt display that certainly does justice to the classic.
A record with a glowing personality and that embraces funk, blues, swing and, of course, jazz. Amenta is in fine company here as he executes flawlessly with his tenor sax on the well thought out originals and fantastic cover.
Travels well with: John Daversa- All Without Words; Matt Panayides- Field Theory