Aura Nebiolo
A Kind Of Folk
Abeat, 2022

Aura Nebiolo’s latest album highlights her brilliant composition and arrangement skills.

A gifted Italian singer, Aura Nebiolo released her debut album last year, a tribute to the evergreen world of the Gershwin brothers (Singin ‘Gershwin, 2021). Abeat has recently released her new record, entitled A Kind Of Folk, a clear homage to Kenny Wheeler and his “Kind Folk”.

The album features a “little” big band that features Nicola Meloni on piano, Cesare Mecca and Dario Avagnina on trumpet, Enrico Allavena and Alberto Borio on trombone, Gledison Zabote on alto and tenor, Simone Blasioli on tenor, Luca Zennaro on baritone, Veronica Perego on double bass and Francesco Brancato on drums.

The record is particularly interesting for the orchestrations and for the use of the voice, which is often an instrument among others rather than the “dominator” of the arrangements. Nebiolo can sing, but she also writes lyrical (“Good Roots”) and articulate (“Harmonic Frequencies”) compositions, which often surprise for their freshness and beauty.

A very interesting record, which does not relegate the voice to a stereotypical role (as often happens) but which is appreciated for the courageous choices, which were successful here thanks also to the contribution of a group of excellent musicians. I particularly appreciated the final “Deadline” but the whole album deserves careful listening.
(EM)