Rosso Napoletano

By the mid 1970s Italian drummer Toni Esposito was a central figure in Napoli’s vibrant music scene, and is known as one of Italy’s most influential drummers, collaborating with Italian and international stars like Pino Daniele,  Don Cherry, and Gilberto Gil. Published by the legendary Numero Uno in 1974, Rosso Napoletano is Esposito’s stunning solo debut that highlights his skill as a jazz drummer — his playing is at once free-flowing and extremely precise — but also his progressive approach, which sees him experimenting with different percussions (including pots and pans), synths, and sound effects. Most of the tracks, including the 18 minute title track, are immersed in airy, sometimes spooky atmospheres (check out this remix of “Il Venditore di Elastici” by Bologna’s Okè), but the energy shifts on “Breakfast,” which blends an upbeat Neapolitan folk melody with an incredible soprano sax, and changes completely for heavy funk closer “L’ Eroe di Plastica.”