GleAm Radio

A Congregation Of Folks

A Congregation Of Folks

Tracklist
1. They Move In On The Action 0:0
2. One Moment To Moment 0:0
3. The Capitalist Creed 0:0
4. A Congregation Of Folks 0:0
5. Half Believe It 0:0
6. In The Field Of The Unconscious 0:0
7. Eres Luz Variation 0:0
8. Eres Luz 0:0
9. But It Doesn't Mean It's Danger-Free 0:0
10. No Clouds In The Air 0:0
11. Salisbury Introduces YLWFBL 0:0
12. You Like Won't Find A Better Listener 0:0
13. Farewell ( A Congregation Of Folks) 0:0
About album

A Congregation of Folks is the debut album from saxophonist and composer Daniele Germani and his quartet.

Thirteen original tracks feature Germani’s tight group of musicians from around the world: Justin Salisbury on piano from the United States, Giuseppe Cucchiara on double bass from Italy and drummer Jongkuk Kim from South Korea. These four musicians met as students at the Berklee College of Music, and connected musically and as friends immediately.

As music students, Daniele, Justin, Giuseppe and Jongkuk spent every day together, playing music, studying, wandering around Boston, talking about life, movies and music. The music in these tracks reflects those days spent together. The ease and interweaving melodic lines are the songs of friendship.

On the cover of A Congregation of Folks is a photograph of Germani’s parents’ wedding taken in1986 in his hometown of Arce in the province of Frosinone in Italy. With a little ingenuity, Lia Rivera Flavia included Germani’s band mates in the picture, too – representing the past, the present and the future.

 

Daniele Germani – Alto Sax
Justin Salisbury – piano
Giuseppe Cucchiara – doublebass
Jongkuk Kim – drums

All Compositions by Daniele Germani

Recorded at Bacque Recording Studio (NY) by Luis Bacquè
Mixed &Mastered at Sear Sound (NY) by the Grammy WInner Jeremy Loucas

AVAILABLE ON:
   deezer  AMAZONMP3    d
Artists: Daniele Germani, Giuseppe Cucchiara, JongKuk Kim, Justin Salisbury
Genres: Contemporary, Instrumental, Jazz
Publisher: GleAM Records
Release Date: 26/03/2021
Label: GleAM Records
Listen:

THE ALBUM - A CONGREGATION OF FOLKS

Reviews:

"This Congregation of Folks Daniele Germani put together for his first recorded document of his music as a leader is full of soulful, personal expression. I was captured by Daniele’s sweet sound and the quartets wonderful collective spirit and creative dialog throughout. Bravo !!! “ "

- Joe Lovano

"Ambition is not in short supply for up-and-coming alto saxophonist Daniele Germani. Back in 2019, the Berklee College of Music alumnus committed himself to writing a song a day, and ten are featured here on his debut disc, A Congregation of Folks. Nor are they easy-come, easy-go compositions; there is an innate restlessness in Germani's muse, leading to pieces which ebb and flow with a surging intensity. While Germani is no stranger to other musicians' projects, his own record is still surprisingly self-assured, auguring well for the young saxophonist's future in modern jazz. "

- Troy Dostert - AllAboutJazz

"Releasing this month on the Italian label GleAM Records, the new CD “A Congregation of Folks” by front man/sax player Daniele Germani presents some top-notch material. On the track “The Capitalist Creed,” his sax strolls and peeks into the corners, braced by morphing chord blocks on piano and the soft swell of cymbal crashes and dings. Lovely, lonely and lyrical, “Eres Luz” punctuates with pauses and pulls in the bass to make its lament. “Farewell” finds sax and piano working out a textured unison (the former, light and breathy; the latter, sweet and sure). As a composer, Germani has a vision, keeps on task and adds some surprises. As an instrumentalist, his tone is true and unselfconscious. A very beautiful compilation of fresh new music."

- Debbie Burke

"DANIELE GERMANI/Congregation of Folks: It's always fun to catch the debut of a sure fingered new talent that's on the rise. This Italian sax man has a firm grip on modern jazz and knows how to make his blows. Leading a crew that's right in step, this is highest order listening jazz that works well throughout. Tasty."

- Chris Spector - Midwest Records

"This album tributes “A Congregation of Folks” that he met on American soil; folks from all over the world, who gathered at the famed Wally’s Jazz Café in Boston.  Among his acquaintances, are those musicians on this recording.  The title tune is melancholy and beautiful.  It’s evident, Germani is a sensitive composer and player.  "

- Dee Dee McNeil - Musicalmemoirs

"(...)Avendo alle spalle tanti anni di studio e con maestri talmente prestigiosi, Germani si presenta al pubblico italiano come musicista maturo, perfettamente consapevole dei propri mezzi espressivi e in grado di guidare un ensemble ben equilibrato e affiatato (...) Di qui una perfetta spaziatura tra gli strumentisti e il giusto tempo dato ad ognuno per esprimere le proprie potenzialità. Così ad esempio in “One Moment To Moment” è il piano di Salisbury a mettersi in particolare evidenza mentre in “Half Believe It” è l’intera sezione ritmica ad evidenziare la sua bravura nel sostenere magnificamente il solismo del leader.(...) Read more on http://www.online-jazz.net/2021/03/21/i-nostri-cd-80/"

- Gerlando Gatto

"El disco mantiene una coherencia en su planteamiento y en la elección de los temas incluidos. Un sonido aterciopelado del saxo de Germani es la nota dominante y el componente principal de los cortes del disco. Se inicia con un tema enérgico gracias al contrabajo y la batería que termina de forma muy suave, dando paso a "One Moment to Moment" que ya nos deja ver lo que nos vamos a encontrar en los siguientes cortes del disco. En otros temas del disco los cambios de ritmo son constantes y provocan una sensación de huida y ansiedad, como en "The Capitalist Greed". En “Half Believe It” sucede lo mismo. Germani navega por espacios desafiantes que sus compañeros de grupo siguen sin descanso y demostrando su altura musical. Algo similar ocurre en “In The Field of Unconscious” que da paso a una introducción de Cucchiara al contrabajo del tema “Eres Luz” un delicado tema espiritual que rezuma paz interior y lirismo. Hay temas intrigantes como "No Clouds in the Air" donde los sonidos se suceden como cantos de ballenas que da paso a una corta pero profunda introducción de Salisbury al piano que sin solución de continuidad empalma con un tema rítmico “You Like Won't Find A Better Listener” que de forma inesperada deriva en progresiones libres hasta que Salisbury encarrila la situación para finalizar como si de una pieza clásica se tratara. El disco se cierra con el breve y melódico “Farewell”. Germani siempre ha creído que la música es una herramienta poderosa para desarrollar el potencial creativo y expresivo de las personas; una fuerza impulsora en la sociedad, rompiendo barreras humanas y un nexo importantísimo en las personas. Y este trabajo que acaba de publicar es un buen ejemplo de cómo conseguirlo, mostrando una amplia gama de estados de ánimo. "

- La Habitaciòn Del Jazz

"The performances highlight the great musical complicity of the musicians: “A Congregation of Folks” is a significant debut and Daniele Germani is a particularly inspired musican and composer, as is his group."

- Eugenio Mirti - JazzEspresso

"«A Congregation Of Folks» di Daniele Germani, pubblicato dalla GleAM Records, è un disco che trasuda America da tutti pori, ed è quello che può definirsi un lavoro dal taglio veramente internazionale.(...)questo album non raggiunge uno score creativo ed esecutivo così elevato solo per caso."

- DoppioJazz Magazine - Francesco Cataldo Verrina