Album review: Imran Mirza, UK Vibe (UK)
Source: Uk Vibe
“Now based in Stockholm, Italian bassist and composer, Ilaria Capalbo, has become immersed within Sweden’s thriving jazz scene that sees her star continually rise amidst some of the exciting musicians currently making and performing jazz music in the country today. And following the release of her debut album, ‘Invisible Atlas’ (2018), the versatile and dynamic bassist has found herself enjoying the fruits of a creative bubble that the following year went on to deliver the debut release from KÓSMOS – the trio project that pairs Capalbo alongside pianist Stefano Falcone and drummer Giuseppe D’Alessandro – as well as serving as bassist to saxophonist Fredrik Nordström’s DOLORES project and honing her skills as a seasoned live performer gracing stages in Sweden, Italy and throughout Europe. And on that note, there’s a riveting collection of YouTube videos that chart the range of Capalbo’s musical performances showcasing her alongside KÓSMOS, Chihiro Yamanaka Electric Trio, Susanna Risberg, Stefano Falcone and some live renditions of tracks from ‘Karthago’ as well that are all such a joy.
Capalbo’s penchant for wearing her influences on her sleeve is a particularly endearing quality when considering her music to date. As part of her KÓSMOS collective, their album ‘Back Home’ (2019) is created as something of a tribute to Lennie Tristano with the trio lovingly reinterpreting and reimagining compositions by the American pianist, composer and educator. With ‘Karthago’, Ilaria seeks inspiration from an entirely different source – that of the legendary Dido who fled tyranny to found her own city in northwest Africa named Carthage (from the Latin, Karthago).
Throughout the album’s eight tracks, Capalbo’s inspired and incredibly ambitious project seeks to outline the city’s fabled past charting the tragedy that served as its catalyst with ‘Belóved’, its humble beginnings in ‘Part I: Ab radice’ and finally to lament its long-lasting legacy with ‘What Remains of Those Days’.
The story is brought to life by an excellent array of artists and musicians with the core quintet comprised of Capalbo on bass and compositions, the aforementioned Fredrik Nordström on saxophone, Andreas Hourdakis on guitar, Fredrik Rundqvist on drums and Thomas Backman on saxophone and clarinet; Tobias Wiklund (cornet) and Mats Äleklint (trombone) add further layers to the album opener, ‘Belóved’. ‘Karthago’ absolutely delivers as a real passion project in the same way that passion exudes from all of Capalbo’s musical endeavours. This is an album boasting a series of wonderful moments from the emphatic opening number to the incredible title track that, following its sublime first half, descends into a gloriously chaotic finale.
Both Dido’s and Carthage’s legacy lay in the success they each achieved against insurmountable odds. Starting from practically nothing, under Dido’s leadership, Carthage quickly became a thriving Mediterranean city and a subsequent rival to Rome. The music throughout is performed with the majesty befitting a story and history of such reverence and it serves as not just a fitting tribute to its inspiration but also to the immeasurable talents of Ilaria Capalbo as well.”
— Imran Mirza
