Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Francesca Prihasti: Adriana

27

Francesca Prihasti: Adriana

By

Sign in to view read count
Francesca Prihasti: Adriana
Francesca Prihasti paints a series of fantastic notions and tuneful tales on Adriana. For this, her third album following Night Trip (Self Produced, 2014) and Evolving (Self Produced, 2015), the young pianist expands her palette while drawing meaning from the personal realm: The album's inspiration is Prihasti's late mother, Adriana, who passed away in May of 2017, so there's a woeful shadow of a sort cast across the project. But don't write this off as a downcast date. Rather than deliver a wailing catharsis or a dark and dignified set of dirges, Prihasti actually chooses to keep her head up. The album, awash with colors both bright and complex, is all the better for that decision.

The title track, a reflective and airy affair appearing on the album's second half, finds Prihasti in woolgathering mode with fellow traveler Mike Rodriguez adding brassy resonance to the flowing dynamic and guitarist Nic Vardanega riding the clouds. It's but a single, yet important, example of the way Prihasti allows precision art to settle in open air. At the album's top, in contrast, she uses a different slant to achieve a similar balance, riding a sauntering 7/4 groove bed that offers ample space for colleagues like Vardanega, bassist Drew Gress and trombonist Alan Ferber to explore. It's an ode to her cat and, as such, a tune that always lands on its feet.

There's much to appreciate in this music, including Prihasti's gifts in juxtaposing myriad ideas against one another without losing clarity. On "Time Traveler," for example, Gress' wide-eyed riffs and drummer Josh Roberts' cymbal work magically dovetail and support alto saxophonist Dave Pietro's standout work. His horn lines prove so engrossing that you hardly notice the way the rhythmic terrain shifts beneath him. And with "Verano," the meeting of gamboling horns, gracefully proud guitar and buoyant rhythms carries the day. But when all is said and done, and the compositions and arrangements receive their due, this still remains a pianist's album. Hearing Prihasti wax nostalgic on the introduction to "Stargazer" or observing her circling the dance floor in a trio setting on "The Emperor," a slow-flow, waltz-esque number in six, makes that point. Thus far, Prihasti has flown under the radar but, if this album is any evidence, she's bound to start registering with more ears soon.

Track Listing

Johnny; Time Traveller; Stargazer; Verano; Adriana; The Wind Chimes; The Emperor.

Personnel

Francesca Prihasti: piano; Nic Vardanega: guitar; Drew Gress: bass; Josh Roberts: drums; Dave Pietro: alto and soprano saxophone; Mike Rodriguez: trumpet and flugelhorn; Alan Ferber: trombone.

Album information

Title: Adriana | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Creative Independent Artists

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.