GIANNI GEBBIA “Petrichor” & “Bhakti”

- Advertisement -

ARTIST

Gianni Gebbia

ALBUM TITLE

“Petrichor” & “Bhakti”

LABEL

Objet-a

______________________________________________________________

Micro-sonic variations: calm, dreamlike and undulating, yet invariably serene, whether under daylight or in the stillness of the night. This is the path of research – not merely sonic, but also, one might say, spiritual and inward-looking – that Gianni Gebbia has pursued for some time, and which finds further confirmation in Petrichor.

The instrument guiding this journey is primarily the Indian bansuri flute, which Gebbia now commands with remarkable mastery. The notable exception is “Metabolico”, where he turns to the soprano saxophone and introduces electronics with measured restraint, giving the piece a more physical and earthly warmth than the rest of the album. Many of the other compositions, even in their titles, seem to belong more to the realm of air than to that of earth.

Choosing a standout track is no easy task. Each piece appears to embody a particular state of mind, inviting listeners either to identify with it or to pass it by according to their own emotional circumstances. Even so, the irrepressible melancholy of “Spume” possesses a lasting and irresistible appeal.

The title track – a neologism combining the Greek words pétra (“stone”) and ichor (“sap”) – refers to the distinctive scent perceived during and after rainfall. The composition fascinates through its deceptive movements before disappearing into darkness, heading towards an unknown destination.

The album concludes with a bonus track that stands apart from the others. At nearly eleven minutes in length, “Zazeela” far exceeds the concise duration of the preceding pieces, most of which remain under three minutes. Dedicated to Marian Zazeela – longtime member of the Theatre of Eternal Music, wife of La Monte Young, and a visionary artist who passed away in March 2024 – the piece combines flute and electronics in a sincere and timeless tribute whose spirit seems fully expressible only through the language of a raga.

The work of Bhakti, meanwhile, follows a somewhat different trajectory. Originally a duo active since 2022, the project was temporarily expanded with the addition of bassist Riccardo Lo Bue for a performance at last year’s Sicilia Jazz Festival, resulting in the recording documented here. While the spiritual atmosphere of the opening “Kind of Jog” recalls the meditative mood of Petrichor, the presence of a rhythm section shifts the music towards a more celebratory dimension, animated by movements suggestive of ritual ceremonies and measured states of trance, as heard in the following “Lunedda”.

The trio’s interpretations of two jazz standards lead the music into an even more intriguing territory. Jerome Kern’s “Yesterdays” and the Davis-associated “Nardis” become vehicles for a fascinating encounter between swing and mantra, suspended somewhere between Manhattan and the banks of the Ganges. These are challenging classics, yet Gebbia decontextualises them with just enough freedom to make their transformations both sophisticated and deeply enjoyable.

The album closes with another tribute, this time to the still-active Venetian musician Gigi Masin. “The Nylon Ruble (To Gigi Masin)” offers a compelling example of electronic music at its most evocative and provides an entirely fitting conclusion to the journey.

Gennaro Fucile

DISTRIBUTED BY

objet-a.bandcamp.com

LINEUP

- Advertisement -