Jazz and Jests: A Night in Larino with the Hurricane Trio and Chris Collins
A Surprising Union
Ah, the world of jazz—a blend of spontaneity, talent, and a sprinkle of ‘what on earth was that?’ Enter the
Hurricane Trio along with the award-winning American saxophonist Chris Collins,
a collaboration that’s as surprising as finding a salad in a cheeseburger joint. The ensemble recently took
to the stage at Palazzo Ducale, solidifying their place in the contemporary jazz scene with a performance that
had the audience tapping their feet and likely wondering if the saxophone was some kind of magical wand.
The Quartet in Action
Comprising the undeniably talented Lorenzo Blardone on piano, Massimiliano Salina on drums, and the original
composer Roberto Mattei on double bass—who’s basically the Mozart of modern jazz—this quartet turned the
elegant Sala Freda into a jazz club that would make even the most stoic monarch crack a smile. “We’ve found
our perfect jazz haven in Larino,” Luca Ciarla remarked, undoubtedly eyeing a plate of pasta that was probably
nearby. Talking about the thrill of performance, he announced, “We’ll be back soon, but first we’ll make a
stop in Termoli,” which sounds like a prelude to a great jazz road trip—think Thelma and Louise but with
more sax and fewer cliffhangers!
Melody Meets Imperfection
The evening wasn’t just about hitting the right notes; it was about embracing the glorious chaos that comes
with jazz. Mattei, the double bass maestro and self-styled presenter, expressed a love for imperfection. “The
structures are never regular but asymmetrical,” he mused, as if reflecting on his own high school geometry
teacher who taught him just enough to avoid getting lost in a maze. “It’s those intentional breaks where magic
happens.” So, there you have it folks: the secret to great jazz is intentional chaos—basically, like
organizing a family reunion.
Musical Highlights
Among the musical gems of the night was Grateful, the title track from their latest album—no,
it’s not just a word aimed at promoting good vibes but a heartfelt gesture of gratitude toward their fellow
musicians. Amidst the intricate melodies, Mattei shared how he composed Island, reminiscing about
Molise—a place that apparently made him feel as if he’d stepped into a postcard. The night took a poetic
turn with an audience member reciting D’Annunzio, who, let’s be honest, probably needed a few jazz hands to
jazz up his work a little.
Encore and Looking Ahead
In a finale that could only be described as a musical mic drop, the quartet performed Turning Point,
the song that heralded their collaboration. As they played, it felt like they were metaphorically flipping a coin
and praying for heads—great jazz often feels that way, doesn’t it? And if you thought the fun ended there, think
again—mark your calendars for November 16th in Termoli, where violinist Luca Ciarla promises to mix dance with
music in his project OutAut by Iacopo Schiavo. It sounds like a catchy title for a movie, but it might just
steal the show.
The union between Larino and Adrifest was enriched with a new chapter with a surprising performance: the Italian protagonist Hurricane Trio together with the award-winning American saxophonist Chris Collins. A quartet born about a year ago and who recently recorded their second album: a musical project by contemporary jazz which struck the large audience at Palazzo Ducale for its refined sounds, the never banal rhythmic ideas, the astonishing virtuosity of the individual musicians and the harmony of the ensemble as a whole.
Lorenzo Blardone on piano, Massimiliano Salina on drums, Roberto Mattei on double bass (the original compositions in the repertoire were written by him) also as ‘presenter’ of the group, in addition to the iconic saxophonist from Detroit, they turned the elegant Sala Freda into a sort of jazz club. “We are very happy to have found in Larino, and in this space (both outdoors in the summer and indoors here at other times of the year), a perfect environment for the Adrifest performances”, so Luca Ciarla in ‘introduce this new appointment and announced that “we will return soon, but first we will make a stop in Termoli”.
A happy meeting just like that of the young trio Hurricane (from Lombardy) with Chriss Collins “who brought us a breath of energy”. The quartet provided real pearls of musical research. And also a praise to imperfection. “The structures – says the leader on the double bass – are never regular but asymmetrical. We believe that precisely from those imperfections, which are actually intentional, which are moments in which the flow of music breaks down, something truly interesting is born.” This, therefore, is the lay motives of the astonishing performance, in which complexity – with sudden changes of rhythm – became harmony.
Among the many songs also performed Gratefulwhich gives its name to the latest album. “It’s not a random name, it really wants to express gratitude for these extraordinary traveling companions, musicians with great abilities”. A nostalgic moment brought to life by the interpretation of Islandcomposed by Mattei who explained that he was in Molise for the first time although originally from Isola del Liri, in the not far away province of Frosinone. And here a fun and poetic scene was created with a spectator in the front row who recited verses by D’Annunzio on the theme of distance from the countries of origin.
The acclaimed encore could not fail to be there. And here the artists chose to play for the spectators Turning Pointthe album song that started the happy collaboration between the four. Closing the circle, because the turning point seems to be the key to the jazz music of the trio+1.
The next appointment with Adrifest will be – as mentioned – in Termoli: on November 16th the protagonists will be the violinist Luca Ciarla with the project – which combines dance and music – OutAut by Iacopo Schiavo.
