Blankrooms - Look at Something Closely

B

Jazz'halo

This record lives up to its title, offering a strikingly intimate chamber jazz sound with spacious playing, allowing each line and instrument to be heard in detail. It has that “tight but loose” quality, created by finding the right balance between composition and improvisation, rehearsal and spontaneity.

Blankrooms is a collective project that develops the compositions of Ivan Valentini and Andrea Cappi. This is their debut album recorded in 2025, at The Groundfloor Studio, Modena, Italy.

Valentini was last heard on the 2025 release “The bigger black box theory”, an imaginative mix of electronics, free improvisation and found sounds. Cappi's most recent work was a groundbreaking blend of electronic and progressive music for 2024 album “Lowlands”, with his band Varv which also features drummer Francesco Mascolo. Bassist Alessio Bruno also hails from Modena but has worked extensively in the Netherlands and leads his own quintet.

Both musicians are to some extent returning to their roots with this album of acoustic jazz in the classic tenor sax/piano/bass/drums format, and they sound energised by the change of tack. Valentini explains; “The original idea was to arrange standards and covers, but then Andrea and I started writing, and Blankrooms took shape — a blend of two very different compositional approaches that, in my opinion, balance, integrate, and complement each other really well.”

Track 1, "Merge" begins with impressionistic piano chords, soon joined by excitingly loose slung drums. A theme emerges with spacious syncopation, then a piano solo with a hint of Horace Silver modality. It builds slowly to a strong, economical sax solo which crescendos alongside the rising harmonies.

"Dark Desire" introduces a potent 7/8 piano riff, combined with a tightly fitting bass line and metallic edge/rim work on the drums. A 4/4 sax theme follows, with sly triplets, chromatic runs and note clusters from piano. Exploratory solos from sax then piano are matched by shifting bass and drum patterns, driving the track to its climax and a sudden stop.

"Next Life" has warm chords and dreamy sax over a bass pedal. Gentle but insistent brush drums support striking modal arpeggio changes. The dryish piano sound showcases the instrument's natural resonance and allows us to hear Cappi's subtle pedal work.

"She Moves On" sets up a propulsive hard-bop groove on bass and drums, memorable riffs, interesting dynamics and a blues feel without obvious blues moves. Bruno's bass solo has perfectly judged input from piano and drums. The emphasis is on quartet interaction rather than solos over rhythm, plus a great combination of bendy sax and piano note clusters.

Final track "Nap On A Cloud" has a slow piano introduction then a long spare sax theme with a hesitant rhythm section, superb dynamics. Cascading bell like chords build intensity. The playing is alert and passionate, not at all like a nap despite the warm harmonic cloud. Unexpected melodic turns and pauses drive towards a triumphant conclusion and a gentle fade.

Overall the album offers fine telepathic quartet playing that leaves you wanting more, with the sort of syncopation that makes you stop and think “What just happened?” – my favourite album of 2026 so far.

You can listen and download at: https://jazzhalo.bandcamp.com/album/look-at-something-closely

© Stephen Godsall
Stephen Godsall is a composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Southern England.

Musicians:
Ivan Valentini: tenor sax, compositions (2, 3, 4)
Andrea Cappi: piano, composition (1, 5)
Alessio Bruno: double bass
Francesco Mascolo: drums