One of Australia’s own Jazz legends, guitarist and producer Albare, and accomplished pianist/composer Phil Turcio have combined forces to become Urbanity, with their debut collaborative album ‘Urban Soul‘ released this February on Alfi Records. The Sydney launch is at The Basement on March 31.
Urban Soul features ten original compositions and shows off a distinctive feel for the groove that runs through every track and permeates both the dark and light spaces of these songs. That’s all down to the interplay between Albare and Phil and their instruments throughout as they build on the free-form, architectural edifices that have established them as one of the most intuitive and inventive partnerships in small group jazz of recent years. The spatial dynamics of these pieces swing from a delicate filigree finesse to full chordal harmonic assaults and showcase a powerful musical alliance between the two.
They started playing together 27 years ago when Albare was looking for a new pianist for his band. At the time Phil had just turned 18. Since their first encounter, Phil’s and Albare’s paths keep on intersecting. Phil say that he and Albare hear music in the same way “Everything I throw at Albare comes back as if I would have played it myself. Albare likes to describe Phil as his musical soul mate.
All About Jazz New York writes “Albare has blossomed into a celebrated jazz guitarist who also directs the Melbourne International Jazz Festival amid other jazz-related endeavors. Here, he focuses on melodic textures via a breezy gait, employing a synth guitar and six-string electric while exhibiting an unhurried or building-block approach to soloing”.
From beginning to end, listeners will hear the pair’s innate instincts, the perfect partnership, the gorgeous groove of two friends making music. “We love jazz beyond the traditional sense” says Albare “I think that Jazz of the 21st Century is all-encompassing. There are no limits”.
What: Urban Soul’s Sydney launch.
Who: Urbanity (Albare and Phil Turcio).
Where: The Basement.
When: Friday 31st March.
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