Francesco Cataldo - Amaranto (2024) [Hi-Res]

Vito Francesco Cataldo, among the most highly regarded Italian jazz musicians of his generation, has long established a reputation as a triple-threat talent, celebrated for his skills as guitarist, composer and arranger. He adds solo piano to his list of achievements with the release of his third recording. “Amaranto” pays tribute to a dear friend, mentor and inspiration, Giuseppe Agosta. Until his death, Giuseppe was director of Caritas, a volunteer organization helping the poor in Francesco’s hometown of Syracuse, Sicily. “We were great friends, he was one of the most important people in my life”, the musician declares. The album’s title, “Amaranto”, refers to Giuseppe’s favorite color, the dark red hue of Caritas uniforms. Francesco spent the year 2000 wearing one as a Caritas volunteer. “It was the most important experience of my life, it changed my vision completely”, he says. The Beatles famously sang, “All you need is love”, but Giuseppe Agosta brought that message home to Francesco through Caritas, a Latin word that translates as “love”. The concept gained new meaning and importance for Francesco. “Love, it was the key word every day, when we helped the poor with Giuseppe, and the other volunteers. Giuseppe taught us that love is the highest value, the key to solving all the contrasts and problems of life: unconditional love! Love for all human beings, love for nature, love for the universe, love for yourself too! Only by loving yourself in depth can you give love to others!” The musician explains. These valuable lessons learned from Giuseppe are the root of Francesco’s music on “Amaranto”. His feelings guided him in a new direction: “After years of studying music, jazz, I decided to focus on a totally expressive way of living music, without the obsession for sterile and often useless technique”. Francesco got the idea to record his new works on piano when he came upon St. Paul’s Anglican church while visiting in Rome in the summer of 2022. Known as St. Paul’s Within the Walls, the church is renowned for its fine acoustics. Built in 1873, the Gothic Revival edifice is a frequent venue for classical and opera performances. “Inside I felt a call”, Francesco remembers, “I saw a coda piano, started playing and It was one of the most beautiful and spiritual experiences in my life”. “Amaranto” is truly a labor of love!

Tracklist:
1.01 - Francesco Cataldo - Prologo (2:08)
1.02 - Francesco Cataldo - Amaranto (2:45)
1.03 - Francesco Cataldo - Vito raccontami (2:37)
1.04 - Francesco Cataldo - Empty Hallways (2:30)
1.05 - Francesco Cataldo - Better Days (3:06)
1.06 - Francesco Cataldo - Two Colours (3:04)
1.07 - Francesco Cataldo - Pictures (3:14)
1.08 - Francesco Cataldo - Your Silence (5:11)
1.09 - Francesco Cataldo - Rima's Mood (3:25)
1.10 - Francesco Cataldo - Nothing by Chance (2:55)
1.11 - Francesco Cataldo - Our Journey (4:10)
1.12 - Francesco Cataldo - So Simple (1:28)
1.13 - Francesco Cataldo - Epilogo (1:16)