Pol Belardi's Urban Voyage is a thoroughly exciting and bold band! Take one soul-driven and charming singer, a tight 4-part-horn section and 6 people forming a polyvalent and flexible rhythm section including bass, guitar, piano, drums, vibraphone, synths and percussion, and you have found their recipe for a unique show. Urban music styles like R'n'B, Soul and Hip-Hop are blended with Jazz and improvisation, then infused with a hint of impressionism to add up to a refreshing musical language, perfectly matching the vibe of the 21st century. From Zappa to Snarky Puppy, from J Dilla to Hiatus Kayiote, from Maurice Ravel to Darcey James Argue, this musical journey narrated by Pol Belardi's original compositions couldn't be more colorful!
Südtirol Jazz Festival (IT), Jazz en Sol Mineur (FR), ...
: PRESS QUOTES
"Die Großformation Urban Voyage des Bassisten Pol Belardi war die U?berraschung des Festivals (Like a Jazz Machine 2015, Luxemburg), warteten die zehn Musiker plus Sa?ngerin doch mit druckvollen Kompositionen und einem ma?chtigen Gebla?se auf" Peter Bastian, Jazzthetik
"Pol Belardi stellte sein neues Projekt Urban Voyage vor (...) das freilich mehr durch seinen Wagemut innovativen Willens staunen machte." Reiner Kobe, Jazzpodium
“Flabbergasting compositions performed by a true band that knows how to use pure energy! This music will blow you away, a new and thrilling festival act is born!” Anton Goudsmit, guitarist
"Pol Belardi's first steps to becoming a new era Mingus are successfully confirmed. A unique composer, bandleader and a new voice in Jazz." Pascal Schumacher, vibraphonist, composer
: BIOGRAPHY
The “Urban Voyage” project was put together by Pol Belardi at the end of his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. It was meant to be a finale to his 6 years of living abroad, and at the same time reflecting the euphoria to start over with fresh adventures, which gave the initial push to endeavour a bigger lineup and new sounds. But not only the instrumentation was of a big concern for the bass guitar player and composer. More than that, he fancied the idea of writing one large piece telling a story, being concise and connected in both a thematic way (musically speaking) as well as in the statement found within the lyrics. The result is a 25-minute-long suite for voice, rhythm section (piano, synths, guitar, vibraphone, drums and bass) and a 4-part horn section, expressing the thoughts of an overthinking person that took the step of leaving the countryside to enter the big city in pursuit of his/her dreams, thus encountering all sorts of new temptations, dangers, challenges and experiences of all kinds. Stylistically, the work is strongly rooted in what could be called “Urban” music, meaning groove music, electronic sounds, beats, spoken word, yet without forgetting the tradition, the past, represented by influences from jazz and impressionistic music, and enough room for improvisation. The band’s repertoire now consists of an evening-filling set drawing energy from all styles cited above and which takes you on a sonic ride you will not forget.
