Luca Kiella - Figure It Out (2019)

This has been a major surprise for us here at RMHQ; a pleasant one, but a surprise none the less. Mostly because the stable it came from is more recognised as supplying us with some of the sharpest Rhythm and Blues in the Western Hemisphere; and that sure ain’t the way to describe Italian singer-pianist Luca Kiella at all.
That said, he really does play The Blues but it’s that late night, nightclub style that we normally associate with Brother Ray or more recently Mr Jon Cleary or the British star Jamie Cullum; but with an added contemporary edge to his songs.
The glorious instrumental Ten O’Clock Blues gets the show on the road in a clever way; nodding to the likes of Monk and Dr. John in the way Kiella tinkles the ivories; but never ever sounding like either on a classy tune that’s just waiting for a TV advert.
This is followed by Kiella’s homage to his hero with a reverential rendition of Jon Cleary’s Unnecessarily Mercenary that will get the toes a’tappin and the brain cells working overtime.
Choosing to cover Don Gibson’s I Can’t Stop Loving You in this format is a brave and possibly even dangerous choice; but Luca treads that tightrope without a safety net; and gives it everything he has coming out the other end with a rather sexy love song that will make the ladies go weak at the knees, and the men grooving along to the wonderful Jimmy Smith style organ sweeps and Aaron Weistrop’s super cool guitar licks too.
This 5 track EP closes with a startling song called So Many Questions, which needs to be played with the lights turned way down low; as our Italian friend tells his story of leaving home to cross an ocean for the love of music; and if his piano playing doesn’t move you…… you don’t have a soul!
I normally like to be contrary when it comes to choosing a Favourite Song; but I have to agree with the record company publicist this time; and go for the title track and single, Figure It Out, a really swinging Jazzy Blues tune with an edgy song sung in Luca’s finest Italian-American accent. Winner, winner, winner!
For a debut there’s a whole lot to like here; nothing more so than Luca Kiella’s superb keyboard skills and his delightful voice which will get even better the older he gets. ~The Rocking Magpie