Fjieri – Words All We Have (Reloaded) (SP Music, 2024)
Fjieri, a collective of Italian musicians established in 1997, initially comprised Nicola Lori (guitars), Stefano Panunzi (keyboards), Angelo Strizzi (drums and percussion), and Elio Lori (bass). Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree, Japan) joined the group after being impressed by their audition, serving not only as an additional musician but also as an artistic producer.
Their debut album, Endless (2009), featured notable musicians such as Mick Karn (Japan), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, The Pineapple Thief), Tim Bowness (No-Man), Japanese singer Haco, Nicola Alesini, Andrea Chimenti, and Laura Pierazzuoli on cello.
In their second release, Words Are All We Have (2015), the band primarily consisted of Nicola Lori (bass and guitars) and Stefano Panunzi (keyboards), with Jakko Jakszyk (Tangent, King Crimson, Level 42, Franco Battiato) contributing vocals and guitars. Tim Bowness lent his vocals to “Hidden Ties,” while Gavin Harrison played drums on “In the Blue Morning.”
Words Are All We Have treats the listener to a set of state-of-the-art progressive rock and funk jazz with stellar electric guitar performances; a mix of sumptuous and atmospheric keyboards; sublime, creative fretless bass; cool jazz trumpet; splendid vocals; and elegant, nuanced drums.
Other musicians on the album included 05Ric (guitar), Nicola Alesini (sax, clarinet), Mike Applebaum (trumpet, flügelhorn), Cristiano Capobianco, Daniele Iacono, Giampaolo Rao, and Angelo Strizzi on drums. The track “Flame” was composed by Richard Barbieri and Tim Bowness, while the rest were attributed to Jakszyk-Lori-Panunzi.
The reissued version, Words All We Have (Reloaded) includes a bonus track (“A Sense of Lost”), updated mastering, new cover art, and a revised track list.