Review of the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra's album 'Home Away From Home'

Boston composer/arranger Ayn Inserto in a delightful collaboration with the Colours Jazz Orchestra, a heralded Italian Big Band, has created the album Home Away From Home, was released June 9 on the German label Neuklang Records. An Associate Professor of Jazz Composition at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Inserto composed and arranged all of the tracks on the album. She also is a protégé of the late renowned trombonist/composer Bob Brookmeyer. Inserto conducts this band of accomplished musical talent, which also includes alto saxophonists Simone La Maida and Maurizio Moscatelli, tenor saxophonists Filippo Sebastianelli and Antonangelo Giudice, baritone saxophonist Marco Postacchini, trumpeters Giorgio Caselli, Luca Giardini, Giacomo Uncini, Samuele Garofoli and Jeff Claassen, trombonists Massimo Morganti, Carlo Piermartire, Pierluigi Bastioli and Luca Pernici, pianist Emilio Marinelli, guitarist Luca Pecchia, bassist Gabriele Pesaresi and drummer Massimo Manzi.

The opening track of the album, which is titled “You’re Leaving? But I Just Got Here,” begins with a lively intro of drumming from Manzi along with an energetic soprano sax solo from La Maida. Later in the track, Gardini’s riveting trumpet solo will make listeners feel even more invigorated. This track was dedicated to Ken Pullig and the whole song embodies the true spirit of the “Big Band” vibe.

“Hang Around,” the album’s third track, was based on a theme by Hirofumi Nojiri. Manzi’s feisty drum play is prevalent in the intro. It also has a fun danceable jazz sense with Pesaresi’s bass work in the background as La Maida’s alto sax play and solo along with Morganti’s trombone solo later in the track could make listeners want to grab the nearest person and go wild on the dance floor.

The album’s second track, titled “Recorda Me,” was commissioned by the Office for the Arts at Harvard and by the Harvard Jazz Band. It starts off with a soft tenor sax solo from Sebastianelli. Then, all of the instruments come together and harmonize luminously. The culmination of sounds is a true example of the “Big Band” rhythm.

“Wintry Mix,” the album’s sixth track, begins with a somewhat ominous pianoforte solo from Marinelli, which fits the track’s title. Then, Manzi’s drumming and Pesaresi’s bass play along with bouncier tones from the alto, baritone and soprano saxophones revitalize the track.

Finally, the album’s seventh and final track, titled, “Subo,” commences with a commanding trombone solo from Morganti. Then, Manzi’s drumming enters the melody bringing an amusing tone to the track. Then, Postacchini’s baritone sax solo and Moscatelli’s alto sax solo bring even more energy along with Pecchia’s guitar solo and Marinelli’s swift tickling of the ivories makes a culminating track that listeners will want to dance to whether they like it or not.

In conclusion, Home Away From Home from the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, is a brilliant partnership between an incredibly talented composer/arranger/leader with musicians that truly know their instruments and how to elicit buoyant rhythms that will entrance listeners and compel them to dance.