Italian bassist/composer Davide Mantovani will be launching his new album Choices at Pizza Express Dean St. on the 24th of September, writes Rob Edgar. Click straight through to extracts from the album on Davide Mantovani’s Facebook page) – WE ALSO HAVE A COPY AS THIS WEEK’S PRIZE DRAW FOR NEWSLETTER READERS

Davide is the regular bassist in the trios of Zoe Rahman and Alex Wilson (who describes Davide as “the secret ingredient in many world music and jazz projects”) and Seckou Keita. Choices features him as composer and bandleader.

Mantovani was originally from Ferrara in Italy. His father was one of the founders of Ferrara Jazz Club.  He came to the UK in 1991 where he has been working steadily on the London scene ever since.

A chance encounter with Senegalese musician Seckou Keita in the 90’s led to him going to Senegal to immerse himself in Griot music. After this experience, Davide started to play regularly in Seckou Keita’s touring band and is joined by him on the album.

Choices is a wonderfully crafted and recorded album that features elements of music from all over the world. What is particularly interesting is Davide’s use of rhythmic patterns that he collected whilst in Africa. Often they are meant to symbolise the natural world or in the case of Human…Kind? the “voice of the Earth.”

In the case of tunes like Plejades and A Cajola d’Oro; they see Davide re-visiting tunes from his past, before he left Ferrara for London, suggesting a nostalgic side. You could file this album under Jazz, or under World. But better still, just listen to it.

Choices will be launched on the 24th of September with a gig a Pizza Express Dean St.

The 24th will feature:

Davide Mantovani: bass

Zoe Rahman: piano

Paul Booth: sax/flute

Guillermo Hill: guitar

Asaf Sirkis: drums

Suntou Susso: kora/percussion

Ivan Hussey: cello

Alice Bellasich: vocals

Al-Maranca: vocals

SPECIAL OFFER!!! A copy of Davide’s CD and a ticket to the show will be available for just £20 if booked through here:

Choose your option

>”>Ticket only >> £15.00 GBP >”>Ticket + CD >> £20.00 GBP