On 24 October, one of the leading figures on the Italian jazz scene, saxophonist and composer Gaetano Partipilo, brings his BOOM Collective to In The Mood Jazz Club for two exclusive concerts. Original jazz compositions, soulful sensitivity, indie influences and electronic textures come together in music defined by a striking vocal presence and a distinctive artistic voice.
With his unmistakable saxophone sound and inventive approach to improvisation, Partipilo has built an international career spanning stages in more than 30 countries. Among the artists he has worked with are Dee Dee Bridgewater, José James, Greg Osby, David Liebman, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu and Nicola Conte – collaborations that reflect the breadth of his musical horizons.
His artistic interests encompass contemporary jazz, songwriting traditions and new forms of electronic sound. Across his projects, he reimagines the music of the 1960s, explores the connections between jazz improvisation and rock, and seeks new contexts for the saxophone. Greg Osby is among the influences on his improvisational thinking, while his teaching experience includes the conservatory in Foggia and Siena Jazz University.
“Partipilo brings the full range of his saxophone mastery into play, adapting it beautifully to the different atmospheres he creates.”
— G. Gatto, Musica Jazz
With BOOM Collective, these artistic explorations take on a collective dimension. Founded in Puglia, the project brings together musicians with diverse creative backgrounds around Partipilo’s compositions. Their shared connection to Southern Italy provides a starting point for music that embraces a wide range of inspirations and engages with the contemporary international scene.
BOOM Collective’s debut album (Auand, 2019) brings together a rich array of instrumental and vocal personalities. Varied timbres, contrasting arrangements and the dialogue between melodic songwriting and instrumental inventiveness turn each composition into a musical world of its own. The follow-up, Leave&Meet (2021), was created largely remotely during lockdown and develops this approach by weaving separately recorded parts into a shared sonic landscape. Its opening track, “Puglia”, captures its spirit most clearly: music becomes a way of travelling to New York, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro.
On stage, Angela Esmeralda’s voice meets Partipilo’s alto saxophone and electronic textures, Jonathan Gee’s piano, Federico Pecoraro’s bass guitar and Dario Congedo’s drums. The language of jazz intertwines with the expressive depth of blues and soul, indie sensibilities and electronic sounds. Vocal melodies, original musical ideas and improvised passages create a richly layered musical world, with each performer contributing a distinct personality.
“A distillation of contemporary sensibility and an attentiveness to everything happening around jazz.”
— N. Gaeta, Musica Jazz, on the album Boom Collective
BOOM Collective brings to the stage the vitality of music shaped by strong artistic personalities. Expressive vocals, rich electronic sounds and dynamic instrumental interplay promise an evening that draws listeners in with its energy and holds their attention through unexpected musical turns and subtly unfolding sonic details. Melodic passages leave room for emotion, while the pulsating groove draws the audience into the rhythm of the evening. In the intimate atmosphere of In The Mood, this encounter reveals both the chemistry between the musicians and the individual voice of each performer.