An enchanting organic arrangement akin to a live performance – modern jazz-fusion with a certain ethereal, ambient softness to the capture. The Skylark Quartet excel themselves this season, with the autumn vibes, alluring melodies, and imaginative grooves, of Luna Rossa Al Belvedere.
Featuring a modest yet faultless blend of guitar, bass, saxophone, flute, and drums, The Skylark Quartet provide an easy listening journey that’s both comforting and original. Their musicianship is second to none, but what stands out with this project all the more so is the creativity and mood of each track.
Recorded in Basel, Switzerland, Luna Rossa Al Belvedere welcomes internationally acclaimed flugelhornist Matthieu Michel to the stage, and was inspired by a special tour of Austria, back in 2023. The collaboration brings a fresh air of passion and creativity to the quartet’s sound, and the project conceptually reflects upon the regions and experiences of touring.
We begin with the enchanting smooth tones and meandering tune of Portonovo, an instant highlight, confidently indicative of the intended warmth and Mediterranean sounds of the band. The influences reach much further than simply jazz, and this is made all the more clear as we progress through the rest of the album’s playlist.
Twelve original tracks let you fall into the timeless and refreshing depth of this real music project. In an era when machines are producing far more music than artists, we need this humanity and realism more than ever, and whether its the mellow sway of Kannenfeldpark In Autunno, or the upbeat excitement and unpredictable theatrics of a joyous Brain Drain, that purity of performance is unmatched, and a pleasure to let fill the space.
Preludio resounds with divine softness, an air of quiet contemplation washing over like waves of warmth and possibility, with a long-form melody both unique and distinct; unmistakable once its crossed your path. Fluir then injects another rhythmically superior shuffle of energy and profoundly impressive musical unity from the quartet. A touch of drama and fun helps elevate this, a descending melodic pattern easily recognisable across over six minutes of live jamming.
Further moments of introspective wonder and natural world appreciation shine softly through the likes of Without Being Seen, and the bass-driven space and solitude of The Old North. Instruments collide and collaborate throughout, for a colourful dance between melodies that’s a joy to escape into. Then for Ylime, the character and charm of the paired melody and gentle drum line, the resounding bass, makes for another uplifting moment of freedom from the weight of the world.
Ninna N’anna is quite outstanding for its cinematic sense of story and development. A captivating listen, grounded by its subtlety and warmth, but compelling for its changing tones, tuneful evolution, and the sincere and intriguing movement through mild instances of both melancholy and brightness. After which, the gentle seaside breeze implied by Lule makes for a calming breath of stillness and ease.
For Eleven, a classic jazz ensemble feels nostalgic and sultry, with fragments of expression lighting up the outer edges, as two leading instruments form another hypnotic dance through the smoky backstreets of European villages.
The album then concludes with its title track, Luna Rossa Al Belvedere – a divine acoustic redirection, portraying a vivid summer evening in Falconara Alta, Italy.
The acoustic fingerpicking takes the lead for a refreshing twist of energy, captivating with folk tendencies that again bridge the gap between jazz and a wealth of musical influences. This final track is sublime, a humble celebration that’s intoxicating for its atmospheric delicacy, and for the soothing rise and fall of the melody and patterns. Through almost eight minutes of music, the piece gathers superb momentum, subtle but striking in its artistic depth, but it always maintains and returns to that original acoustic pattern, for the comfort, the conclusion, and the calm.
In their own words, ‘balancing structure and spontaneity’ is key to the humanity, heart, and playfulness of The Skylark Quartet, and this project in particular. As such, the music is impressively unique, yet deeply soothing and interesting in its sense of stability and immersive calm. If you’re able to catch The Skylark Quartet performing live this year, you won’t be disappointed, but for the rest of us – this album is an eclectic and incredibly moving alternative.
Download or stream Luna Rossa Al Belvedere. The Skylark Quartet features Samuel Sorana, Patrick Joray, Tobias Melcher, and Marton Juhasz.
