AMN Reviews: Ratti – Theta [Barly Records BD 1794]

Theta is the debut album of Ratti, a Bolognese ensemble which at the time of recording consisted of Roberto DiBlasio (alto and soprano saxophones and drums), Antonio Ciaramella (guitar and electronics), and Giulio Izzo (double bass). Since Theta was recorded the three were joined by drummer Simone Vincenzini.

Theta is an interesting mixture of composed and improvised music, with the emphasis falling on the side of composition. For a trio, Ratti gets a full sound; DiBlasio, Ciaramella, and Izzo make the most of the instrumental resources at their disposal with intricate arrangements that see melodic lines and supporting roles passed seamlessly around from hand to hand. Consequently, the music is propelled as much by shifts in instrumental color as it is by melodic or harmonic progressions.

A typical track is built around a core of a handful of melodic themes arranged for all three in unison or in harmony, followed by solos over elementary structures. The music itself contains elements of jazz, classical and rock blended in a way that mostly defies generic pigeonholing. Cremisi, which finds DiBlasio on drums, is a loose-jointed rock jam; Achab is a short, through-composed piece; Memories is a contrapuntal work that incorporates a quasi-minimalist pulse; Canto notturno, the closing piece, enters into experimental electronic territory. The playing is economical but tight, with DiBlasio, Ciaramella, and Izzo working together to forge a truly collective sound.

Daniel Barbiero