Brancaleone Project – Gradisca (Ipe Ipe, 2024)
The Brancaleone Project’s debut album, Gradisca, by the Apulian trio, pays homage to Italian cinema masters. The ensemble includes Giorgio Distante on trumpet, Giuseppe Spedicato on tuba, and Rocco Nigro on accordion. Overall, Gradisca creates a poetic, visionary world inspired by Federico Fellini’s films and Nino Rota’s cinema music.
Drawing on imaginary film scenes, the trio’s original compositions evoke a cinematic, dreamlike ambiance. The trio’s name, Brancaleone Project references Mario Monicelli’s “Brancaleone army.” Notably, the colorful, evocative melodies are reminiscent of old gramophone tunes as well as Italian nuances and aesthetics, western classical music, jazz, and fairy-tale atmospheres.
The album features collaborations with talented Salento musicians, including singer/musician Antonio Castrignanò, cellist Redi Hasa, guitarist/producer Valerio Daniele, and percussionist Vito De Lorenzi.
Brancaleone Project is based in Apulia, Southern Italy. Nigro, known for his accordion skill and compositions, has worked with renowned artists like Vinicio Capossela and Ludovico Einaudi, as well as composing for films. Spedicato, a versatile composer and tuba player, has collaborated with ensembles such as BandAdriatica and Balletto del Sud, presenting his talents worldwide. Distante, a trumpet virtuoso with a background in electronic music, explores new sonic territories through his compositions and software development.
The trio’s innovative instrumentation immediately caught the attention of choreographer Fredy Franzutti, who integrated their music into “La luna dei Borboni,” an original production by Balletto del Sud inspired by Vittorio Bodini’s work. Premiering at the Apollo Theater in Lecce, the show garnered success at various national festivals, theaters, and in Spain.
Buy Gradisca.