Short Tracks: Peter DiCarlo- ‘The Other Side’ (2024)

Saxophonist Peter DiCarlo follows his stellar debut album, ‘Onward’ with the compelling album, ‘The Other Side’. DiCarlo, channels the Turkish infliunces developed from his relocation from New York City to Izmir, Turkey. The result is an album that brings forth the best of both worlds.

The opening song, “The Other Side” showcases DiCarlo’s passion with its powerful rhythmic tension and equally passionate alto work. DiCarlo, supported by drummer Ferit Oman, bassist Oman Musluoglu and pianist Uranus Kizaner leads the listener on a world wind journey not only giving a nod to the rythum section’s Turkish routes but also sharing the passion on DiCarlo’s native New York.

Each of the album’s seven songs bristle with passion and nuance demonstrating a jump forward from DiCarlo’s fine debut.

“Yesterday’s Tomorrow” is a slow burning DiCarlo’s original which given Kizaner a showcase for his elegant piano style while the rhythm sections teases the listener with what’s to come. DiCarlo’s solos are tantalizing, building of the entertainment of the band taking this fine composition to a place not anticipated at the beginning, but certainly welcome.

New Yorker FRancesca Prihasti contributed the composition “Ever You Need Me”. Prihasti, a pianist and frequent collaborator with DiCarlo composed an epic which allows DiCarlo to flirtively dance around the song’s main theme. The entire band gets into the act with dynamic solos by Kizaner and prominent drumming by Oman. Musluoglu holds down a steady bottom end while DiCarlo soars in the song’s coda, given this fusion of cultures and wonderfully natural vibe.

Peter DiCarlo has confounded expectations with ‘The Other Side’ giving the listeners a challenging, yet accessible album. The album, recorded in one day in May of 2023 at Hayyam Recording Studio in Istanbul Turkey is out now on Shifting Paradigm Records and can be purchased via Bandcamp.