Egidio Rondinone - OOPARTS (2024) Hi-Res

The fantastic Italian producer Antonio Martino never ceases to surprise us with his very eclectic yet equally fascinating choices. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons our friendship has developed over the years—being on the lookout for sounds, creations, and after all, it doesn’t matter if we push beyond the borders of jazz or find ourselves on more classical projects. You can take all the projects Antonio has produced and put them together—there’s nothing to throw away.

This new concept album from drummer and beatmaker Egidio Rondinone leads with an eclectic set of contemporary tracks that transcend genres. The main singles include “Supa Dupa,” featuring the beautiful vocals of Emma D’Erasmo, and “Gold Diggers,” enriched by the legendary collaboration with trombonist and Nicola Conte’s collaborator Gianluca Petrella. These two tracks, infused with club and dancefloor energy, announce the crossover potential and broader appeal of *OOPARTS*, an album for DJs, dancers, listeners, and music enthusiasts inspired by Hip-Hop, House, Afro-Rhythms, and Jazz.

We are immersed in an Afrobeat jazz that has nothing to envy from today’s major productions, displaying a beautiful diversity of worlds across the different tracks. The arrangements almost feel like magical potions in this universe. Born from Egidio’s proposal to create an album using samples from the A.MA Records catalog, the album’s artistic lineup includes musicians like American instrumentalist Fontaine Burnett, the aforementioned Gianluca Petrella, Valentina Magaletti, Milena Jancuric, and Sanja Markovic (just to name five) in an international palette of modern and diverse sounds.

The reason we so easily slide into this universe is that this artist is also a musician. To be able to manipulate sounds in this way requires a solid musical background, far beyond the effects and sounds that combine to form this beautiful unity we call a track. Indeed, diving into the A.MA catalog and imagining the creation of such an album demands a good understanding of the rich artistic diversity it offers. Egidio’s musical journey as a drummer and beatmaker is highlighted by his collaborations with the Paolo Achenza Trio, Zona45, Pooglia Tribe, and the American legend Greg Osby. Egidio has also contributed to film soundtracks, including producing for Articolo31 on the track “Senza Problemi” for the film *Senza Filtro*. Future projects are planned with De La Soul’s guest and Macy Gray’s touring musician, Matt Demerritt. Such fine references are clearly understood when listening to this album.

Once again, and for different reasons, this album is not for everyone—contemporary jazz and electronic music lovers will be thrilled, while others may struggle to appreciate it. But as they say, “you can’t please everyone.” What I love about this creative form is the storytelling it offers. This album goes far beyond what French artist St Germain presented a few years ago with his track *Rose Rouge*. At times, this universe morphs, and a voice comes to caress your ear. If you’re in a dreamy and poetic mood, you’ll be totally absorbed by this atmosphere. Once again, this album deserves a spot among our “Essentials.”