Carlo Cattano - Rituals [Aut Records 133]

Another fresh album released by the Italian Aut Records imprint on June 24th, 2k25 is "Rituals", the latest outing by a five piece ensemble led by baritone sax and alto flute player Carlo Cattano who's accompanied by Emanuele Parrini, Tony Cattano, Cristiano Nuovo and Antonia Moncada in this specific musical setting. Catering a menu of nine brand new compositions rolled out over exactly 55 minutes and 55 seconds we see the quintet embarking on a deep, melancholia-inducing, slightly dusted and vintage sounding tip with the opener "Ntzu" which evokes memories of traditional lore shared over generations, candle-lit taverns and slow dances of yore whereas "Riff 3" opens with playful, yet enchanted flutes, remnants of echoes of what could be interpreted as oriental influences and a largely tender and romantic vibe before drifting into slow, yet complex drum rhythms and expertly executed bass works for an extended sequence. Furthermore we find quite uplifting and probably even tongue-in-cheek violin string pluckings in the stripped down slow Jazz jam that is "Ciuscia" which return, even though on a deeper and more inward-looking note in the rather uptempo dancefloor cut named "Windows" whereas the final "John Tchicai" waves goodbye on a classy, yet once again slightly vintage and old-timey note and therefore rounds off quite and interesting album for dedicated fans of Contemporary Jazz.

Album artwork on Instagram!