Now based in Stockholm, the Italian bassist, cellist and composer Ilaria Capalbo has firmly established herself within Sweden's jazz landscape.
Since her 'Invisible Atlas' debut alongside pianist Stefano Falcone in 2018, Capalbo has affirmed herself as a thoughtful and highly creative artist and collaborator going on to deliver the debut release from KÓSMOS (alongside Falcone and drummer Giuseppe D'Alessandro) and serving as bassist to saxophonist Fredrik Nordström. On top of that, Capalbo continues to establish herself as a seasoned and devoted live performer engaging with appreciative audiences across Europe.
Typically, the release of Capalbo's latest full-length proves another project demonstrative of the care she consistently pours into her music. More than just an album that delves into the unbridled joy of motherhood, the bassist strives for a more visceral recounting of the experience of pregnancy - capturing everything from the miracle to the mayhem and the frantic in between that becomes all too commonplace for early motherhood. And it's an approach that finds 'The Brightest Sun' to be a staggeringly engaging and beautiful piece of work.
The notion of the "story" has long proved to be an endearing character trait for Capalbo when approaching her music: from her assessment of the importance of life's invisible forces as detailed in 'Invisible Atlas', the honouring of American pianist Lennie Tristano through KÓSMOS' 'Back Home' or the album 'Karthago' that details the legendary Dido who fled tyranny to found her own city in northwest Africa named Carthage (from the Latin, Karthago).
The idea that the story is everything is an elegant and nuanced way to regard life and sincerity when it comes to music-making.
Always knowing just how to connect and bring the best out of her collaborators, 'The Brightest Sun' finds Capalbo backed by a quartet of familiar names and faces - Nordström, saxophone in hand, continues the pair's lineage of collaboration as does 'Karthago' collaborator, guitarist, Andreas Hourdakis; saxophonist Thomas Backman and drummer Henrik Jäderberg round out the ensemble and aid in the realisation of Capalbo's narrative.
Comprised of seven compositions, Capalbo (credited for double- and electric-bass as well as effects) expertly interweaves emotions that veer from spiritual contemplation to chaotic discordance to hallowed intimacy. As an album, 'The Brightest Light' doesn't settle for sentimentality and boldly opts to embrace the dichotomy and contradictions attached to motherhood.
'The Brightest Light' is a joyous masterpiece and - in true Ilaria Capalbo fashion - it's a beautifully-told story.
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