Final Step

https://finalstep.bandcamp.com

Final StepFinal Step is a progre​ssive-​jazz band from Switze​rland, founded by Matteo Finali (guitar). The band plays a mix of styles from jazz to blues, from rock to funky, exploring popular music from all over the world.Fifth album Disconnections coming June 14th 2021 published by Final Step Music.Disconnections, released 14 June 20211. Prelude (Love Ballade)2. Disconnections3. Leaving For4. In A Brookyln Store5. Interlude (Country Road)6. Prickly Pear Jam7. Ladybug8. Sunday Morning Rev.9. Postlude (Dreamtime)10. Disconnections (Video Edit)Official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN1cbqZP8c8BACKSEAT MAFIA (UK) by Lara Eidi:“Passionate, rhythmic and unashamedly funky, whilst displaying a compositional creativity that highlights bandleader Matteo Finali's jazz credentials - I can't wait to hear them perform live" I LOVE fusion bands. I really do. You never know what to expect, and that’s because they’re a fusion of flavours.Italian musicians in particular have always delivered when it comes to jazz music, a truly energetic burst of blues, funk and rock and roll. From the multi-lingual border region of Ticino, in Switzerland, guitarist Matteo Finali brings Final Step with their fifth album release, Disconnections. Its not so much disconnections as it is a celebration of that which unites us all: music, powerful music that makes you dance, shake, reflect and dance again.It’s no surprise that these five stellar musicians, guitarist Matteo Finali; Mirko Roccato (saxophones ) Alessandro Ponti (Hammond organ and keys), bassist Federico Barluzzi and drummer Dario Milan live up to this reputation of what I would refer to as the Italian-Swiss answer to that post-Miles brand of electric jazz.To start with, dear readers, this is an album which must be heard when performed live. Its production is nothing short of pristine, polished and energetic – which makes me beg the question of would it sound different, perhaps a little more daring, live? That’s a good thing, because truth be told good records can only be considered great when performed live. It’s not that the players, all formidable in their own right, hold back; they deliver just the right amount of virtuoso playing to hint at the certified potential of a raw, Miles-like sound.Moving on, as I’m already dancing in my chair whilst reviewing Final Step – case in point:“At a time when everyone is seemingly ‘connected’ all the time via their computers and phones, we want to bring a much-needed jolt of energy, reminding people of the importance of disconnecting and enjoying the spirit of live music,” they say. This is already a confirmation of that stellar sound on Disconnections. The music overall is nothing short of passionate, rhythmic and unashamedly funky, whilst displaying a compositional creativity that highlights bandleader Matteo Finali’s jazz credentials.The album plays out like a live setlist, starting with the gorgeous instrumental, “Prelude – Love Ballade” serving as a warm-up to the following title track; a playful, funky blues cry hearkening back to a New Orleans’ nola vista. Shifting between a blues shuffle and a swing chorus with a stellar horn section, the repeated motifs become a clear indication early on that the band like to showcase each other’s talents, and rightly so; particular praise for the keyboardist’s short but energetic solo.Shifting landscape and feel from the American South to continental Africa, Ponti’s compositional skills highlight a more melodic, light interplay, superbly intersecting between the rhythm section and giving room to the bassist to subtly underpin a feeling of travel in “Leaving For”, allowing the listener to travel to their own terrain.Cleverly leaving the harmonious sounds of West African harmonies, “In a Brooklyn Store” is the wildest, grooviest of tracks and arguably a clear indication of a city which feeds artistically off its ‘disconnections’. Stylistically, there’s that undeniable East Brooklyn Miles creeping back into the sound, with a gradual build to a more orchestral, contemporary sound. There’s the perfect amount of space between each motif, delivering that sense of conflicting contrast. One could argue: an extension between the improvised instrumental solos and heavily sequenced rhythm section.All that boisterous, fusion energy dissipates into a calming (and much needed) soulful guitar interlude in, well, “Interlude- Country Road”. It’s a reflective track, the kind that, as is the band’s intention, makes you completely aware of the versatility behind the music, and if it were live, I doubt you’d be looking at your phone.I’ve said it before: Italians (or in this case, Swiss-Italians) are sometimes wonderfully all about that funky rock and roll. “Prickly Pear Jam” is that right amount of funky soul and sweet rock and roll that when heard live, the audience will be completely dancing away with the band’s playful and joyful energy. A jam session, if you will.“Ladybug” took me by surprise, as I instantly heard a beautiful homage to Miles Davis’ In A Silent Way. Whether intentional or not, “Ladybug” displays wonderful showmanship (especially from the band’s saxophonist) of a more emotionally evocative delivery sometimes absent from fusion ensembles. Definitely my favourite track of the album.Final Step literally take us to church with an unknown reverend with “Sunday Morning Rev”. It’s got Jazz Messengers written all over it, but in their own distinct, toe-tapping, James Brownesque kind of way. Its a track I need to see live (and dance to) – special kudos to the keyboardists who brought the Hammond soul to life!It only makes perfect sense therefore to have the band’s exquisite leader end the album himself by taking a graceful and achingly beautiful final step with “Postlude – Dreamtime”.I can’t wait to hear them perform live.-JAZZ'HALO (BE) by Ferdinand Dupuis-PantherDass nicht nur in Basel, Zürich und Chur sowie Schaffhausen Jazz aus der Schweiz stammt und jährliche Jazzfestivals stattfinden, sondern auch im Tessin, diesem mehrheitlich italienischsprachigen Schweizer Kanton, mag den einen oder anderen überraschen. Doch auch hier ist der Jazz als universelle und mondiale musikalische Sprache daheim, gibt es in Lugano und Ascona jährliche Festivals des Jazz! Aus dem Tessin stammen die Musiker von Final Step unter der Leitung des Gitarristen Matteo Finali. Diese Jazzrock-Formation hat nun ihr fünftes Album veröffentlicht. Entgegen des Albumtitels ist das Ensemble sehr wohl mit allerlei Genres verbunden, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk. Im wahrsten Sinne ist Final Step eine Fusion-Band. Übrigens der Bandname nimmt wohl bewusst Bezug auf die Band Steps Ahead, die von Mike Mainieri gegründet wurde. Übrigens, gemeinsam traten beide Bands vor ein paar Jahren bei einem der größeren Festivals in der Schweiz namens Estival Jazz auf.Wer bei Fusion an Pili Pili, Spyro Gyra oder Blood, Sweat & Tears denken sollte, der wird bei Final Step ganz andere Farbnuancierungen und Klangfärbungen entdecken. Kein gewaltiger Bläsersatz dringt ans Ohr des Hörers; keine überbordende Schlagzeugsoli eines Steve Gadd oder Ginger Baker füllen den Klangraum bei Final Step. Auch auf Kalimba und Kora verzichtet Final Step und dennoch ist Fusion angesagt, ist der Blues anwesend und auch der Funk. Fein abgestimmt agieren die einzelnen Musiker, mit Soul und Groove. Da röhrt und röchelt der Saxofonist mit seinem Instrument, da ist der lang gezogene satte Klang der Hammond-Orgel zu vernehmen, ebenso die feinen Linien mit und ohne Flageolett, die Matteo Finali seinem Saiteninstrument entlockt. Ja, rockig ist die Band auch unterwegs, aber eben anders als das United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, als es noch auf den Bühnen der Welt stand. Doch das ist unterdessen leider nur noch eine Fußnote der Jazzgeschichte, denn die meisten der Ensemblemitglieder wie Volker Kriegel, Albert Mangelsdorf, Jon Hiseman, Ian Carr oder Kenny Wheeler sind ins Jazznirwana eingegangen. Die Gegenwart gehört Final Step.Neben einem Präludium hören wir auf dem Album auch ein Zwischenspie

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Country: Switzerland (CH)

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