'Mosaico' marks the new collaborative release from singer-songwriter Francesca Confortini and arranger Ryan MacKenzie who present a scintillating love letter to Brazilian music and culture.
With Confortini and MacKenzie initially having met at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, both have taken very different career paths that have led them to this project with each amassing a multitude of accolades and achievements along the way...
For Confortini, a versatile and open-minded approach to her music has afforded the Milan-born and London-based artist to adapt within a variety of styles and ensembles. Whether serving as vocalist for the high-energy, indy electronics of Terra Viva or the Brazilian outfit Samara or even the lush neo-soul stylings of her own releases including the fantastic 'The Window'. With a Bachelors degree in Popular Music Performance and a Masters in Jazz Studies, Confortini has consistently led with a passionate and charismatic presence that is magnetic. And alongside the skills of Ryan MacKenzie, the vocalist finds a kindred spirit to help elevate her music to an even higher plateau...
With MacKenzie's journey beginning in Aberdeen before venturing to London, the multi-instrumentalist, writer and arranger can since lay claim to an extensive array of credentials that have found him arranging for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra. In a similar vein to his 'Mosaico' collaborator, MacKenzie thrives upon his affections for various styles of music as his efforts have become noteworthy for being able to celebrate a vast array of influences and styles from celebrating Scottish folkloric narratives, to that of contemporary jazz and of course an adoration for Brazilian music initially fuelled following a trip to Rio nearly ten years ago.
With Brazilian music held so dearly by both Confortini and MacKenzie, 'Mosaico' serves as a project that must come with a weight of expectation, not just for long-term listeners of each of their music, but a heavy weight of expectation for each artist as well. And to their credit, it's a certainly a concept record that the duo have dived head-first into catering for, in essence, three separate ensembles including a Brazilian rhythm section, a classical-leaning string unit and a horn section. It's a fascinatingly composed record that at its minimum features Confortini presenting a sublime performance accompanied by just Luca Boscagin's guitar and percussion by Barak Schmool ('Carinhoso'); conversely, 'Tristezza' features Confortini soaring alongside fourteen musicians and a choir comprised of more than forty.
'Mosaico' proves a genuinely staggering perception of Brazilian music that is composed with confidence and a deep appreciation for the music's history and traditions. An album that is as intimate as it is expansive with Francesca Confortini's dynamic and nuanced vocal matched perfectly with Ryan MacKenzie's intricate and compassionate arrangements. An album that serves as a definitive jewel amongst each artist's treasure chest.
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