NICK BIELLO

NEW AMERICA

La Reserve Records

Nick Biello, alto saxophone/composer; George Colligan, piano; Alex Tremblay, bass; Peter Kronreif, drums; Charlie Porter, trumpet.

The opening tune  on Nick Biello’s “New America” album is called, “Bel Canto.” It sounds like a jazz standard.  The melodic hook is memorable as the piece slow-swings across my listening space.  In fact, it’s an original tune composed by Nick Biello, an artist who has known since childhood that music was his path.  For this album, Biello has written every song on this production of excellence.

Biello is known to incorporate classic Italian opera into his jazz compositions. Track #2 blends Latin jazz into the mix on “Queen of Jordan.”  Charlie Porter’s trumpet joins Biello’s alto saxophone in a harmonic duet. Together, they present the melody of this cha-cha tune.  George Colligan’s piano solo is lovely, pulling back the curtain so that Porter’s trumpet can take center stage during his improvised segment.  When Nick Biello follows, his satin-smooth sax solo flies and flutters like a beautiful bird.  These two songs quickly become my favorites.

A tune he calls “Slightly Perilous” blasts onto the scene next at an uproariously swift pace.  Peter Kronreif is given an incentive to smash, accentuate and lead the group with his powerful drums.  Biello explores the upper register of his alto saxophone, flying, reminiscent of Charlie Parker, above the rhythm section’s forceful groove. I find everyone of Nick Biello’s original songs to be beautifully composed, and full of passion.

“Before the Flood” begins quite ominously, with the arrangement calling for Kronreif to use mallets on his drums.  Biello takes an individual moment to play his alto saxophone solo.  After a few bars of improvised beauty, Kronreif joins him again on drums.  When Alex Tremblay walks his bass into the arrangement, accompanied now by the piano of Colligan, the song develops into a full-fledged post-bop arrangement and a musical storm brews. They develop the mood with instruments and talent, conjuring up the rainstorm from the earlier, quiet landscape of music. The addition of trumpet harmony merging with the sax builds a crescendo or power-packed weather, rolling waves of sound depict the flood.  Minor chords build suspense and vivid imagery.

There is something for everyone on this brilliant new album by Nick Biello.  The title track, “New America” closes the album, blending contemporary jazz with straight ahead grooves and sometimes dissonance, brightly mixed with harmonic horn lines. There is a happy stride in this music.  “A Long Way to You” is slow and sexy.  It gives Nick time to show us his balladeer side.

The compositions of Nick Biello offer comfort, joy and inclusion as a theme for this ensemble presentation.  I love Biello’s composing skills. Also, the way his talented group of seasoned musicians interpret his songs is entertaining. They put the spice into this hot, peppery pie of delicious jazz. Every song is like a piece that makes your tastebuds scream for more.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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