To create his richly expressive, alternately sensual and intensely boisterous high energy debut Getting’ It There, Fabrizio Sciacca formed a quartet as adept at emotional subtlety as action packed ensemble work and snazzy, transcendent soloing.
Swinging seamlessly and powerfully with pianist Donald Vega, drummer Billy Drummond and Jed Levy on tenor, the Italian born, Berklee educated, NYC bassist rolls from the opening, free-spirited bluesy romp “One For Amos” to the rumbling, frenetic “One Second Please,” with graceful stops along the way via “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” (the only standard) and “Lullaby in Central Park.” The emotional core of the 7-track set is “For Sir Ron,” a frolicsome tribute to Sciacca’s legendary mentor/teacher Ron Carter that spotlights the young bassist’s budding brilliance as he interacts with the irrepressible skinning of Drummond.
Carter is more than a muse here. He contributes whimsical liner notes that describe receiving Getting It There in the mail and digging it but (facetiously) wondering who the heck he’s listening to. This is by far one of the most impressive straight-ahead jazz debuts of the year!