Nicola Conte, Italian guitar player and producer - new album: Let your Light Shine On (MPS Records May 18th, 2018)

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Nicola Conte & Spiritual Galaxy

Let Your Lights Shine On

Release date: May 18th, 2018

Label: MPS Records
Distribution: Edel / Kontor New Media

The Italian guitarist and bandleader Nicola Conte has recorded his first album for the legendary, recently re-established MPS records. Conte has brought with him his cosmic-cosmopolitan ensemble of stars which includes trumpeter Theo Croker, saxophonists Logan Richardson and Magnus Lindgren, and singer Zara McFarlane. For the most part recorded in Bari, Italy and Johannesburg, South Africa, it is a sensitive work of art that crosses the border between soul and spiritual Afro-jazz.

Musicians hate to have to pigeonhole their music. Nevertheless, Nicola Conte makes the attempt: "You could call it spiritual or cosmic Afro-jazz. I could also agree with calling it Afro-soul." For his new album, "Let Your Light Shine On", this Italian DJ, producer, guitarist, and bandleader has casually interwoven soul and grooves pulsing with the beat and breath of Africa. In so doing, Conte combines elements that seemingly do not belong together.

This innovative jazz revivalist has always been open to sounds of every sort and color. Born in 1964, Conte formed the artist collective Fez in the early '90's in his native city of Bari, produced jazz and modern electronic-oriented Bossa Nova, and recorded film music. Conte's eighth album conveys his interest in spiritual deceleration ("We should not be hemmed in by materialism. We need new perspectives!"). At the same time, his music has a political slant.

Line-up: BRIDGETTE AMOFAH (vocals), CAROLINA BUBBICO (vocals), ZARA MCFARLANE (vocals), ZOE MODICA (vocals), GIANLUCA PETRELLA (trombone & mini moog), LOGAN RICHARDSON (alto sax), MAGNUS LINDGREN (tenor sax, flute, african flute), THEO CROKER (trumpet), PIETRO LUSSU (piano, vox organ, wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes), LUCA ALEMANNO (double bass & Fender bass), TEPPO MÄKYNEN (drums & percussions), ABDISSA ASSEFA (congas & percussions), TOMMASO CAPPELLATO (drums), NICOLA CONTE (guitars), NDUDUZO MAKHATHINI (Fender Rhodes, electric piano), TUMI MOGOROSSI (drums), TLALE MAKHENE (congas & percussions), SEBY BURGIO (organ), MIKE RUBINI (baritone sax)

Live Dates
25/05 London (UK) - Ronnie Scott´s
26/05 London (UK) - Ronnie Scott´s
09/06 Villany (HU) - GERE Jazz Festival

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