When you see a solo album from a bass player, you probably assume it will just be one long bass solo. After all, bassists rarely get the spotlight when they are part of a band. Alberto Rigoni is a different sort of bassist. Sure, he is a very gifted player, but just as important, he is a gifted composer. “Overloaded” is his fourth release and, while his bass playing is certainly featured prominently, it is not always the dominant instrument.
Tracks like the intro “What’s On Your Mind,” “Multitasking,” “Floating Capsule” and “Glory of Life” all feature his skill on the bass guitar.
Tracks like “Ubick” and “Chron” have spots for him to shine,
but also feature his band, including drummer Denis Novello and keyboardist Federico Solazzo. Elsewhere, Rigoni gets help from
two fellow Italians, guitarist Marco Sfogli from the James LaBrie solo band on the title track and DGM guitarist Simone Mularoni on “Ubick.” It shows that Rigoni knows what each of his compositions need and ultimately this allows each track to shine on
its own.
What I love about “Overloaded” is that it plays more like a band that’s led by a bassist versus a bassist who has guys backing him. Instrumental albums tend to suffer from a sameness or from sounding incredibly disjointed. “Overloaded” is anything but those things. It is a cohesive tour de force for a very talented musician who should continue to produce engaging music like this album.
