Mattia Basilico - On The Edge (2026) [Hi-Res]

The Italian quartet of tenor saxophonist Mattia Basilico, pianist Alessio Pagliero, double bassist Carlo Bavetta and drummer Bernardo Guerra released the album On The Edge on 16 October 2026. The music is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition while seeking new expressive possibilities: the quartet treats the repertoire of the great composers and the legacy of the masters not as museum material but as a living source of new forms, directions and musical landscapes.

The pieces are arranged by the group itself and conceived as an open setting for interaction, where written material gives way to freedom, mutual listening and discoveries that happen anew in every performance. The musicians draw on a shared vision and a common sense of phrasing and musical flow, while each contributes a distinctive sound and sensibility. The album’s voice emerges from this exchange — music with sharp dynamic contrasts, created in the moment and open to risk.

The project’s key reference points are John Coltrane, Eddie Harris and Thelonious Monk, who shaped the group’s development and Basilico’s in particular, serving as examples of courage, expressive freedom and continuing exploration. The album reveals both the quartet’s collective voice and the individual personalities within it; for the musicians it marks a beginning and a desire to move forward while remembering where the music comes from.

Lineup
Mattia Basilico: tenor saxophone
Alessio Pagliero: piano
Carlo Bavetta: double bass
Bernardo Guerra: drums

Tracklist:
1. Mattia Basilico - Song of Praise
2. Mattia Basilico - Ojos de Rojo
3. Mattia Basilico - Teo
4. Mattia Basilico - All the Way
5. Mattia Basilico - When Will the Blues Leave?
6. Mattia Basilico - Eddie Harris