Setting the tone with crowd noise and an immersive yet dimensional soundscape, Manuel Muzzu opens his album From T(h)ree To Four with intrigue and instrumental mastery with the track Last One. Taking us on a playful and dynamic, contemporary jazz journey, the opening track of the record is filled with intricacy and earworm melodies that have us in awe. The guitar and saxophone solos are out of this world, and the momentary respites of silence simply engage us further.
Next up is On My Side, which opens with an assertive bassline and textured percussion with a charming guitar melody. The saxophone comes in as a main protagonist, with a cinematic edge. Needless to say, we are in awe! The piece takes on a more cosmic design and feels almost transportive and psychedelic!
We deeply appreciate the cohesive tapestry of sound that Manuel Muzzu creates with the composition, and the intuitive nature that he showcases with his collaborators.
Punky Funky opens with a super elegant and cerebral, surround sound bass guitar performance which truly sets the tone for the composition. We are enamoured by the dimensionality of the sonic architecture. We learn from the visionary artist that he grew up with a handicap, but it is clear that Manuel Muzzu has turned his pain into power as he demonstrates a unique and contemporary approach to the funk and groove genres.
He confesses, “I have an handicap on my right hand due to a mistake by the doctors when I was six years old. That prevents me from using all fingers and my wrist. In effort to overcome my disability I worked hard to find my own technique to play like a normal player, because passion is much stronger than destiny.”
We feel empowered by the star as we experience Lost In, which opens with a meditative synth and peaceful piano. The track really showcases our protagonist’s 25+ years of experience as he takes us on a textured voyage, and opens us up to self-reflection with the composition.
Jeff’s Style opens with astral frequencies and rolling drums, taking on an 80s adjacent edge. We love the high synth and lean that some of Manuel’s influences include John Patitucci, Jimmy Haslip, Adam Nitti, Pino Palladino, Charlie Puth, Benee, The Weeknd, Daôy Freyr, Ole Borud, Jacob Collier, as well as new bass players including Hadrien Feraud, Robert “Bubby” Lewis, and Mono Neon, but it is clear that Manuel Muzzu is creating a universe of his own.
Salsamba is an immersive experience in line with the current soundscape, but taking on a more romantic edge with a samba-esque beat and nuance. We love the danceability of the track, and can only imagine how great this would be to experience live!
This brings us to Right Now, where we are inspired to remain in the present moment as Manuel delivers charm and catharsis. The saxophone and rippling keys are exquisite. Urbanoises takes on a more subversive approach with a moodier edge, in line with the name of the track. Textured percussion and sounds of the city envelope us as we experience the range and expansive mindset of the composer.
Next is Sparkle Purple, which is an exemplary track showcasing the range and sonic diversity of the composer. We love the meditative percussion and the concept of the song being purple works perfectly, as it demonstrates a regal and spiritual vibe with an incredible bass performance and an almost transcendental approach to song creation.
Finally, we experience ‘M I ?, which open with a soft jazz vibe and a reverb that feels refined and magnetic. Speaking on his creative process, Manuel tells us, “I write my music starting by the harmony and then adding the right melody. After that I choose the rhythm and I put together these three ingredients trying to create a non banal work. All the instruments parts are recorded by the musicians in home recording. Then when all material was ready I started to edit in my M2 Studio with my professional equipment. When I was pretty satisfy of the mix I sended everything to my friend Steve Corrao from SAGE AUDIO studio for mastering.”
We love hearing more about the star’s innovative process, and it truly allows us to connect on a deeper level with his compositions. We have added Last One to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Manuel Muzzu, including his 2020 album, 3-Ree.