Open Circle
Slave to the Sea
Splasc(h) Records (Italy) 1987
H 130 (LP)
sleeve : EX(light wear on surface.)
media : EX-/EX-(some slightly noise caused by some slightly wear.)
Released in 1987 on Italy’s excellent Splasc(h) Records—a label that easily holds its own alongside ECM in the European jazz landscape—this album by the Rome-based quartet Open Circle (Maurizio Signorino on ss/ts, Corrado Visconte on piano and synth, Santino Carcano on bass, and Massimo Valdina on drums) is a hidden gem worth seeking out. The group sustains an atmospheric mood throughout, yet their playing shifts seamlessly between fiery intensity and mystic delicacy. The result is a refined, fluid ensemble sound that rivals the best of ECM’s output, full of nuance, elegance, and emotional depth. A first-rate contemporary jazz record—highly recommended for listeners who appreciate both adventurous spirit and lyrical sophistication.
A1: (With Your Sweet Fools) I Can Fly
B1: Dance for Gio
B3: Slave to the Sea