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Ilaria Capalbo

.Stockholm-based Italian bassist/composer Ilaria Capalbo is equally at ease building hard-swinging lines and improvising on the whole sound-spectrum of the instrument. Aside from leading her own band, a quintet/septet that recently debuted with album Karthago, she is one of the co-leaders of critically acclaimed Italian trio KÓSMOS, bass player in Fredrik Nordström’s DOLORES and a member of Blue Note/Verve pianist Chihiro Yamanaka’s European Trio, She has composed music on commission for Nobel Museum and NobelCreations, contemporary Swedish dance company Cullberg Balletten and festival Explorations of Now. She has so far shared the stage with Norma Winstone, Stefano di Battista, Cassie Kinoshi and SEED Ensemble, Susanna Risberg, Karin Hammar among others and performed original work at Royal Albert Hall, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Casa del Jazz, Blue Note Milano and at prominent jazz festivals in Italy and Europe.

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5
Album Review

Kósmos: Averno

Read "Averno" reviewed by Chris May


Formed in 2015 in Naples, though its individual members have long since gone outernational, piano trio Kósmos debuted with Back Home (Jazzit) in 2019. The album was composed of reworkings of five tunes by Lennie Tristano plus one original each by pianist Stefano Falcone, bassist Ilaria Capalbo and drummer Giuseppe D'Alessandro. The follow-up, Averno, is a different kettle of fish, devoid of any discernible links with Tristano's austere cerebralism. It has no apparent connnection, either, to ancient ...

21
Interview

Ilaria Capalbo: In Fearless Pursuit Of Her Muse

Read "Ilaria Capalbo: In Fearless Pursuit Of Her Muse" reviewed by Ian Patterson


After years playing in different bands and drawing widespread praise for her lyricism and rhythmic agility, double bassist Ilaria Capalbo has stepped up to front her own project. The Neapolitan's debut album, Karthago (Bluenord Records, 2022), is a remarkable statement of intent. Inspired by the ancient Mediterranean city of Carthage and its near-mythical figurehead, queen Alyssia, Capalbo harnesses duo, quintet and septet in a suite that is powerfully alluring. The rise and fall of Carthage may seem like ...

1
Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

Read "Karthago" reviewed by Emmanuel Di Tommaso


Nell'epoca dell'accelerazione permanente in cui ogni idea deve essere smart e leggera affinché possa cogliere in pochi secondi la fragile attenzione di un pubblico stordito da infinite ondate di suoni, di immagini e di notizie, soltanto gli artisti dotati di una propria voce autentica possono avere il coraggio di dare vita a opere concettuali che richiedono (e meritano) tempo e attenzione, e che sono fondate sul desiderio di condividere emozioni e significati profondi. È sicuramente un'opera di questo ...

8
Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

Read "Karthago" reviewed by Ian Patterson


For her debut as leader, bassist Ilaria Capalbo takes as her muse the ancient city-state of Carthage, the former Mediterranean powerhouse, in what is today modern Tunisia. Repeatedly sacked by a series of invaders, Carthage's colorful history, and its near mythical figurehead, queen Alyssia (or Dido), has inspired writers, poets and composers since Roman times. It is a bold canvas on which to inscribe musical notation, particularly for a debut, but the Stockholm-based Italian's writing for this lithe quintet, full ...

12
Album Review

Ilaria Capalbo: Karthago

Read "Karthago" reviewed by Chris May


Bassist and composer Ilaria Capalbo was born and brought up in Italy but spends much of her time in Sweden, where she recorded Karthago and assembled the band which performs on it. It is always a joy to encounter for the first time a musician who sounds so fresh and original and whose music is such a delight. Ciao, Capalbo. Karthago was inspired by the ancient city of Carthage, which during the age of the Roman Empire ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Ilaria Capalbo, Nate Smith, Sky Creature, Louis Hayes & Other New Releases

Read "Ilaria Capalbo, Nate Smith, Sky Creature, Louis Hayes & Other New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


Riveting saxophone solos rocketing us into the stratosphere, eclectic vocalists, legendary drummers and more, including the otherwordly beauty that Ha-Yang Kim and Ayesha Brooks add to the already striking compositions of Wayne Horvitz, and the compelling sophomore release by bassist Ilaria Capalbo.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 The Baylor Project “Strivin'" Generations (Be a Light) 0:16 Host talks 5:26 Danilo Blaiotta “Third Night. The Waiting" The White Nights ...

1
My Favourite Things

Ilaria Capalbo e il Questionario di Proust

Read "Ilaria Capalbo e il Questionario di Proust" reviewed by Paolo Peviani


Il tratto principale della mia musica Cerco sempre di incorporare una certa qualità narrativa nella musica che scrivo e nel modo in cui suono. La qualità che desidero nei musicisti che suonano con me La voglia di aggiungere qualcosa di personale alla musica. Precisione e professionalità sono importantissime. Sono poi particolarmente felice quando mi accade di suonare con persone con le quali condivido anche un percorso di crescita o un forte legame di amicizia: mi sento ...

Read more articles
"Capalbo's bass brings to mind Percy Heath and Eddie Gomez" — All About Jazz "Ilaria Capalbo is rapidly emerging as one of Italy's most brilliant bass players" — JazzIt / JazzEspresso
Primary Instrument

Bass, acoustic

Location

Stockholm

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Averno

Self Produced
2023

buy

Karthago

Bluenord Records
2022

buy

Back Home

Jazzit Records
2019

buy

Invisible Atlas

Skidoo Records
2017

buy

Videos

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