South Of Brooklyn

They Say...

Review by Steven Loewy, All Music Guide

After relocating from London, England, to New York City in 2000, Italian freestyle drummer Federico Ughi hit his stride, documenting his work on his own record label, 577 Records, which features his compositions and groups. Daniel Carter, with whom Ughi is closely associated, appears on the final four tracks of this album, but what distinguishes the album are the "options" (taken from the name of the group) and eclecticism of the approaches pursued. Bringing together mostly little-known sidemen, the drummer achieves some dramatic effects that are thankfully devoid of common clichés, making this a fascinating entrée to Ughi's world. For example, the funky "Never There" punches with a deliciously upbeat verve, and could be confused with something a bit more commercial, while "Slight" is almost atmospheric with its slow tempo draped by three saxophonists. Electric guitarist Sean Moran plays a critical role throughout, with his hard-laced solos blending a rock sensibility with a free aesthetic. Ughi seems less concerned with the usual strategies of free jazz, although most of what he writes falls in that genre, than with the integration of improvisation and composition in a seamless unit that meshes melodic abstraction with sophisticated writing. There is not a weak voice in evidence, with group improvisation a common element. The saxes lock horns but never trip over one another, and if the guitarist seems to occasionally solo without regard to context, he is always interesting. In the end, it is clearly Ughi's game, with the drummer nudging, cajoling, and pushing the limits, careful not to go over the edge. By including ambient pieces such as "White," which could have come from Bill Frisell, Ughi lets it be known that his vision is broad enough to encompass a wide palette.