'Waiting For Edo', a sublime listening experience conveyed by Italian pianist/composer Raf Ferrari and his quartet, rooted in a metaphorical logbook of a journey from a father to his child, this is nothing but great and beautiful music, hostile to any labelling.

"According to the Cambridge Dictionary, roots (radici), can refer to a multitude of meanings. In biology, they are plants transformed in time by water that anchor themselves to the ground. In logic, they are the "origin" intended as the constitutive part of reality in which homogeneous elements add up; in maths, they are a number that, multiplied by itself, reaches another number contained within the first one.

Finally, in music, the root is the fundamental note that defines the key to a track, giving it harmony and movement, whether through contrast or affinity. This is how polysemy can help in describing this gorgeous new musical project by Raf Ferrari Quartet, here with the excellent crew of Vito Stano on cello, Claudio Sbrolli on drums and Andrea Colella on double bass.

'Waiting for Edo' is the logbook of a journey dedicated from a father to his kid, figure, and archetypal metaphor of the root. This is the concept projected by Ferrari, pianist of great prestige and renowned composer. Seven stations (compositions) in which experienced writing ability transfigures atmospheres and moods through dynamics of expressiveness, seven stations during which the gravest listening error would be to accent the plurality of musical references that develop from History with a capital letter in this very personal and familial history, now available to be shared.

Thus, overcoming the cliche of referencing Debussy here or Barry Harris there, Genesis on one side and Keith Jarrett on the other, as if name-dropping was the way to gain better credit in the inner circle, the quartet re-elaborates the customary listening experience in a circuit that is nothing but great and beautiful music, hostile to any label. The technical quality of this "pure" group, for his interplay, affinity, knowledge, and storytelling abilities, allows the listener breaks and quickening of pace, storms, and calm. An adventurous journey between chord superimpositions, rhythmic decomposition, and blooming of cellos, which dominates the melodic section with Ferrari's piano." - Paolo Romano, Musica Jazz Magazine, January 2025

Raf Ferrari: piano

Vito Stano: cello

Andrea Collela: double bass

Guerino Rondolone: electric bass on track 7

Claudio Sbrolli: drums

Recorded July 8th, 9th and 10th 2024 by Francesco Bennati & Enrico Furzi at La Strada Recording Studio, Rome, Italy