The Antonio Fusco Quintet’s recent release, “Peaceful Soul” is a passionate and nuanced tapestry that is inspired by the jazz and classical traditions of Asian, Afro-American and European music, while still feeling deeply personal and grounded. Fusco’s masterful compositions combine his own unique experiences and the cultures of many communities, using delicately textured rhythms and serene yet escalating melodies to tell his stories.

The duality of what makes a “Peaceful Soul” seems to revolve around the balance of tranquility and moments of intensity. On one hand, the spirited opener “18th Floor” was inspired by a state of panic when Fusco was caught in an earthquake while composing at his piano in his 18th Floor apartment in Hangzhou, China. The driving hard-bop feel and blistering improvised solos mimic this feeling of chaos amongst what was otherwise a quiet moment.

Each member of the european-based quintet is featured bothindividually and as a whole, creating not just a band, but the sound of a thriving musical community. The floating and impassioned horn melodies (David Pastor tpt, Emiliano Vernizzi– tenor sax) and pointillistic piano motifs (Michal Ciesielski) are masterfully supported by the both tender and fiery drums and bass (Antonio Fusco – d, Massimiliano Rolff- b), coming together to capture the wistfulness, contemplativeness, and energy that makes a “Peaceful Soul.”