Walter Beltrami, Panic Trio - Felix' Jump (2016)

Felix’ Jump, led by eclectic guitarist Walter Beltrami alongside with Danilo Gallo (electric bass) and Stefano Tamborrino (drums) has been recorded and mixed at Estudio Uno in Madrid, and released on April 15th 2016 by the Italian independent label Auand Records.

After the dizziness of Paroxysmal Postural Vertigo (Auand) – alongside with Jim Black, Stomu Takeishi, Francesco Bearzatti and Vincent Courtois, the Italian guitarist goes back to one of his favourite combo, the Trio, to record a new concept album that confirms his talent as a storyteller. Felix’ Jump was freely inspired by Felix Baumgartner’s free-fall jump from Space, at 41.000 meters altitude. In this jump, Walter saw the same “jump into the Unknown” that was the axis and beating heart of Paroxysmal Postural Vertigo and a metaphor of all music and art which goes for unpredictability, risk and surprise. The very same motto of Auand records: “energy, risk, conviction and the unexpected”.

“A friend of mine showed me Baumgartner’s jump on the web – reminds Walter –I hadn’t heard anything about it and I was simply blown away! I had never thought someone could even conceive the idea of jumping like that from space! It was really shocking, but also refreshing and exciting. So the title is my personal tribute to the emotions arisen after watching it. To me Felix’s jump is an act of love towards sane madness, the one you need to overcome your limitations; an unusual gesture that breaks up with your way of thinking which is getting too old for you and that will never be the same after that. An act which is brave and ironic at the same time. Courage is not enough to full-fill such an enterprise. You also need great sense of humour”.

That’s why Walter Beltrami decided to bring his Panic Trio to Madrid, where he now lives. Three years of meetings between Italy and Spain to produce a CD with seven original tracks and a re-arrangement (taken from Stravinsky’s Rite of Springs, one of Beltrami’s all-time favourites). The cover photo is a dreamy shot by Sara Cornali portraying a toy-astronaut in free-fall towards a blurry earth surface, the unrecognisable colourful guitarist’s pedalboard. Executive producer Marco Valente for Auand Records in co-production with Onwire Music.