NEW RELEASE – ALESSANDRO FLORIO

Four to the Florio.   

How sweet it is to be pleasantly surprised by a guitarist that’s solidly rooted in tradition yet provides a poignant personal touch. One of Alessandro Florio’s main interests is the organ combo. He played in veteran Pat Bianchi’s group and recorded a Hammond record with Bianchi – Roots Interchange – ten years ago.

On Florio’s new organ record, Controra Avenue, (Bianchi stalwarts) Carmen Intorre Jr. on drums and Troy Roberts on tenor saxophone (on four tracks) are completed by ace organist Kyle Koehler. Florio expands his measured steps with fast dribbles, Pat Martino-ish in tone and phrasing, a great style at the center of hip tunes that bring to mind the outfits of Larry Young (Reginella) and Don Patterson (Will You Still Be Mine). As far as inspirations go, the top of the heap!

Individuality shines through in treatments of lyrical South-Italian songs that blend effortlessly with the age-old American bop aesthetic: in Florio’s view, ‘controra’, that typically Italian feeling of the sultry early afternoon, mixed with ‘avenue’, the hustle and bustle from Hudson to East River. It’s swinging, tight-knit, both puttanesca and a donut dunked in a manhole, ending with a sassy impromptu jam on Stanley Turrentine’s Trouble.

No trouble getting through Controra Avenue from beginning to end.

Check out a slice of Controra Avenue on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lod9qTls358