Luca Aquino - Aqustico, Vol. 2 (2017)

More than an album, this magnificent meeting of minds and styles, performed by two virtuosi musicians, also represents a project A proposed 45 day, 3600 km bike tour across Europe starts from Luca’s native Benevento in the south of Italy, and reaches Norway in time to play an album release gig at the International Oslo Jazz Festival. This epic journey’s mission is to spread the message of the UNESCO campaign to defend world heritage from ‘extremism and radicalization’. The eye-catching, masterly CD cover art depicts a minimalistic bicycle, created by the renowned Italian sculptor, painter and printmaker, Mimmo Paladino.

Luca Aquino
Luca Aquino is increasingly recognized for his unique trumpet sound. Born in the town of Benevento, in Southern Italy, he was tutored by internationally renowned giants, Paolo Fresu and Enrico Rava. In 2007 Universal Music published his first album as a leader, “Sopra Le Nuvole”; and a year later he recorded “Lunaria”, with guest Roy Hargrove and Maria Pia De Vito, for which he won the Each of the nine tracks feels like a complete story, full of unanticipated twists and turns (which is undoubtedly also true of the road trip itself). Giampiero Franco adds extremely sensitive and supportive percussion on two tracks, such as Lei (Aznavour’s, She) where Luca’s horn, drenched in rich reverb, might suggest musings of Miles. His beautiful-sounding (overdubbed) horn offering a home for solitude and reflection. The overiding message of Aqustico, a most special musical and physical marathon is: ‘wheels, not walls’. It is about communication. Eerily, I found myself ‘listening’ to several minutes silence following the final, ultra-reflective track, Blue Sky. This album is beautifully conceived, performed and produced. Musically invigorating – with lungfuls of fresh air, from Benevento to Oslo.

“Top Jazz” award by the Italian magazine Musica Jazz. He has recorded two albums with the percussionist Manu Katché . After having directed the Pozzuoli Jazz Festival and Bari Jazz in 2016 he took part in the event “Manu & Friends” sharing the stage of the Olympia in Paris with Sting, Richard Bona, Noa, Stephan Eicher, Raul Midon and Tore Brunborg. Luca is also known for his musical research and the use of electronics. An extraordinary project in 2015 was the UNESCO backed recording of an album in the archaeological site of Petra, in Jordan, in collaboration with the Jordanian National Orchestra. Carmine Ioanna Born in Avellino, Italy Carmine started studying music at age 4. At the age of 11 he enrolled at the conservatory Cimarosa of Avellino to study piano. Along with classical studies he has always studied and played jazz with some of the best Italian and foreign musicians such as Ramberto Ciammarughi, Paolo Tombolesi, Carlo Negroni, Greg Burk and Dennis Mongomery. Carmine has won several awards as a pianist and as an accordionist including first place in the European Accordion Competition and a scholarship to the Berkley College of Music in Boston.

Tracklist:
01. Luca Aquino - White Sky (2:23)
02. Luca Aquino - Tag´s Smile (7:32)
03. Luca Aquino - Frangetta (5:33)
04. Luca Aquino - Luna Di Ghiaccio (7:43)
05. Luca Aquino - La Danza Delle Cicogne (3:47)
06. Luca Aquino - Cip E Ciop (4:46)
07. Luca Aquino - Lei (3:21)
08. Luca Aquino - Blue Sky (1:49)
09. Luca Aquino - Blue Vessel (6:52)