Federica Colangelo – “Forward”

Federica Colangelo returns with “Forward”, a new single from her longtime project Acquaphonica. This time she’s joined by bassist Igor Legari, drummer Giovanni Nardiello, and special guest BC Manjunath on mridangam and konnakol. The lineup is different, but the connection between them feels tight and in the moment.

The track mixes jazz and classical influences with South Indian rhythm, but it never feels like it’s trying to impress you, and it’s more about how the parts interact. Federica’s piano lines keep everything steady while Manjunath’s rhythmic ideas bring in this surprising momentum. There’s no sense of anyone showing off and you can tell they’re really listening to each other. The groove shifts a lot but stays fluid. It’s the kind of piece that rewards attention without demanding it and if you’ve followed Federica’s work before, this feels like a step forward that still sounds like her.

Follow Federica Colangelo on social media to keep up with Acquaphonica’s new releases this year, especially if you’re into jazz that avoids the usual patterns.