Review: Giorgio Serci / Roberto Manzin - Silver Lining

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Silver Lining

Giorgio Serci / Roberto Manzin's Silver Lining, released on Seadas Records in 2009, is a superb double frontline quartet effort, consisting of Serci's sublime guitar and Manzin's impassioned saxes (and clarinet), with renowned US bassist Harvie S and drum poet Enzo Zirilli, already familiar on this site through his association with phenomenal singer Sarah Gillespie, on traps and percussion, supplying the rhythm section.

This line-up works supremely well, with both outstanding ensemble and solo work. Indeed, it is nothing short of impressive. Serci's guitar and Manzin's woodwinds are just sublime, underlined by an equally exceptional rhythm section of Harvie S and Zirilli.

The material on Silver Lining consists of six Serci and three Manzin originals. Superb compositions, every one. Imaginatively through-composed, they also leave ample space for inventive improvs.

The music has a very conversational, very mediterranean feel to it, often particularly reflecting Sardinian influences, adding to this Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and other Latin colours as well as classical ones, while remaining firmly rooted in jazz. Sensitivity as well as passion emanate from all the players throughout Silver Lining. This is mediterranean informed jazz at its very best, no mistake about it. An absolute delight, one could listen to this mesmerising album for hours.

Silver Lining has consistency by the ton, and is more than compelling - absolutely magical, in fact. Intelligent yet beautiful and beautifully accessible at all times, this album is 'heart music' with stories to tell that keep one riveted with their deep emotion and passion, and, indeed, their tremendous warmth.

I'd recommend Giorgio Serci and Roberto Manzin's Silver Lining to any aficionado of mediterranean jazz, and indeed any lover of good music. This is a line-up that one really would love to hear much more from!
 

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