ROMANTIQUE DUNIYA - Francesco Mascio

Romantique Duniya by guitarist and composer Francesco Mascio is a journey across musical cultures and traditions. Ten original compositions combine jazz crossover, Mediterranean melodies and musical influences from Ireland, Iran, Libya and Gambia. Mascio's classical guitar meets strings, accordion, percussion, voices and kora, with different guest musicians on individual tracks.

Available edition

Numbered 180 g 12-inch 33 rpm vinyl LP — BirdBox Records BBR2024FM02VYN. Check current availability in JBC's variant selector. The label's master-tape copy and digital download are separate products, not variants of this listing.

Vinyl tracklist

Side A

1. Brigid's Dance — 03:05
2. Sarah — 05:54
3. Thinking of Farzad — 03:40
4. Vinicio's Song — 05:12
5. Tre Trifogli — 03:17

Side B

1. A Song for Peace — 04:36
2. Pensando a Django — 06:00
3. The Rebirth of Lilith — 04:13
4. Tarhindu — 03:17
5. Samsara — 03:57

Musicians and guests

Francesco Mascio — classical guitar, composition and arrangements on every track.

Guest contributors include: Steve Wickham and Claudio Merico (violins); Carmine Ioanna (accordion); Nicola Scagliozzi (double bass); Domenico Benvenuto (drums); Pericle Odierna (clarinets); Checco Pallone, Vito Cardellicchio, Lorenzo Beverati and Diletta Longhi (percussion); Fabiana Dota, Esharef Alì Mhagag, Giovanni Imparato and Antonella D'Avino (vocals); Alberto La Neve (saxophone); Jalimansa Haruna Kuyateh (kora); Paolo Mazziotti (bass); Farzad Basatpour (tambour). Their contributions vary by track, as credited by the label.

Recording and vinyl production

Lorenzo Vella handled recording, mixing and mastering at Nightingale Studios. The label documents an analogue production chain, high-resolution digital archiving via Metric Halo ULN8 3D and a half-inch Ampex ATR102 analogue tape master. Lacquer cut by Roberto Barbolini; vinyl pressed by Optimal Media in Germany.

Credits

Label and executive producer: BirdBox Records / Lorenzo Vella
Composer and arranger: Francesco Mascio
Mix assistant: Francesco Mascio
Graphic design: Nerina Fernandez
Photography: Simona Mililli.