SAVOLDELLI - CASARANO - BARDOSCIA: THE GREAT JAZZ GIG IN THE SKY (TRIBUTE TO PINK FLOYD)

It is not a secret that Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon is one of the most influential and loved albums in the history of music, which has modified (positively, I guess) the lives of countless individuals and groups, and has led to the creation of several covers, tributes and renditions. Most of those tributes ?at least the ones I've heard- continued with the rock potion all over the music, creating nice covers but in the end covers that maintain the same spirit, I mean, that don't really make us think: "this is different", no. Fortunately, Boris Savoldelli decided to create something quite different, a surprise that someone who expects a tribute with a similar sound from the original work will not really dig. So yeah, I warn you, this is a rue creative tribute, so go forward or turn around right now.

The Great Jazz Gig in the Sky is a pretty cool name for this tribute album, which of course tells that jazz is what we might find here. Though Savoldelli might be the mastermind behind, the project consists on a trio, greatly complemented by Rafaelle Casarano on sax and Marco Bardoscia on bass. The songtitles are the same you already know, but the music is what is drastically different.

The jazz does not appear in the short opener "Speak to me", in fact, this is a loony introduction in which vocals and spacey-noises can be heard, a bit freaky. With "Breath" now we can notice the important role bass will play during the album, because it is the only instrument here, creating the rhythm we are used to know. Of course there are vocals, Savoldelli is the singer and man, he does it really good but I have to say that the first time I listened to it I felt kind of disconcerted, maybe it is an acquired taste. The "second" part of this song is amazing. Saxophone appear along with some spacey electronic atmospheres, sensual and relaxing, but probing and stimulating. This was the first moment in which I said to myself "this is gonna be great".

"On the Run" is a short lunatic track with some quirky noises here and there. When it vanishes, we are already listening to "Time" which has a very disarming sound provoked by the vocals and double bass, it is beautiful and becomes even better when sax adds its melancholic sound. I dare saying that the mood of this piece is actually sad, so if you are sensitive, it could even make you cry. "The Great Gig in The Sky / Money" is a challenging combo. The first minute continues with the melancholic sound, but then all of a sudden electronics appear creating a quite different atmosphere, while vocals enter singing the Clare Torry part. Those electronics keep beating but now is Savoldelli's vocals singing the Gilmour part. When vocals finish, the music changes again, bass stays and produce once again, some disarming sounds.

The longest creation comes next with the mighty "Us and Them". Man, I was obsessed with its depth the first time I listened to it. Here the trio has a wonderful guest musician, Dewa Budjana plays guitar in a very soft way but totally accurate to create the ideal atmosphere. Tender vocals surrounded by ambient and electronic nuances will transport you to another threshold, so you can close your eyes and feel the charm and magic of this amazingly arranged song that despite being the longest, it has been the one I have repeated the most. In the last part the guitar becomes a bit more protagonist with some nice riffs included. It is great how after a long instrumental (interlude?) vocals return in order to finish this enchanting track.

"Any Colour You Like" brings some electronic noises, like spacey and futuristic; in a passage bass appear in a subtle way. It leads to "Brain Damage" which has Boris' vocals with a loony spirit, you know, the lunatic is on the grass. Bass and sax are here all the way, the vocals create strange textures and we can also notice some soft but deep atmospheric backgrounds. The song flows and the last two minutes are deliciously highlighted by Casarano's sax. A gem! The album finishes with "Eclipse" which has a kind of humoristic mood that contrasts with what we had been listening. It is a cool way to finish an amazing and unique tribute that I would like to recommend to any open mind aiming to discover memorable tunes.

Enjoy it!