adEIdJ – Associazione delle Etichette Indipendenti di Jazz

Press Release

Luc Mabal is a project born from the meeting of the historic Trieste–based band Luc Orient – Piero Pieri and Rrok Prennushi – first joined by percussionist Maurilio Balzanelli and later by Riccardo Morpurgo, a long–established jazz pianist who here primarily takes on the role of keyboardist. Over time, the quartet has developed a repertoire that blends the diverse backgrounds of its members, fusing electronics, art rock (Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads), progressive influences, world music – with a particular focus on Africa – and echoes of 1970s jazz (Art Ensemble of Chicago, Gato Barbieri). The result is an original sonic landscape, combining acoustic percussion with electronic beats, piano with noise–driven guitars, synth bass lines with wide, lyrical themes carried by saxophones and voice. African influences intertwine with urban atmospheres in a dynamic and distinctive balance. Their music is groove-driven yet luminous and poetic, at times touched by a subtle psychedelic vein. This identity is fully captured in «Mali Bolivia», the band’s debut album, long conceived and carefully crafted down to the smallest detail. The lyrics, written by saxophonist and singer Piero Pieri, are entirely in English, except for one fully instrumental track (The Ancestors) and Mare mia, performed by its author in the Triestine dialect and dedicated to the bora wind: not merely a meteorological phenomenon, but a powerful symbol for the people of Trieste, an integral part of everyday life and a defining element of the city’s character.

 

Track List

1) Silence
2) Alliance
3) Mali Bolivia
4) The Ancestors
5) Mare mia
6) Logdrum
7) More Colours
8) Mother Nature

All lyrics by Piero Pieri
Music composed by Piero Pieri, Riccardo Morpurgo, Rrok Prennushi and Maurilio Balzanelli, except track n. 5 composed by Piero Pieri

Personnel

LUC MABAL
Piero Pieri (vocals, saxophones, keys, synth, programming)
Riccardo Morpurgo (piano, keys, keybass, synth)
Rrok Prennushi (guitars, effects)
Maurilio Balzanelli (percussion, snare and ride)

Guest:
Afra Pieri (backing vocals)

 

Recording Data

Recorded in 2023 at vonBruck Studio, Trieste; mixed and mastered in 2024 by Daniele Speed Dibiaggio at Sound Development Studio, Trieste, Italy.