Each Measure Feature: Gianfranco Malorgio

FEATURE

Gianfranco Malorgio, a talented musician, solidifies the importance of lifelong training in mastering a skill or art. He began playing classical guitar at a very young age and perfected his study of the instrument with Maestro Giovanni Viola, a teacher at the Morlacchi Conservatory in Perugia. Then, in 2005, he founded the group Hot Club Roma, inspired by the music of the great Belgian composer and performer Django Reinhardt. The group is working on a first project and performs in the most prestigious clubs in Rome and at various Italian festivals. This project led them to create their first CD, "Swing From Rome," published by “Wide Sound Records.” Over the years, Malorgio has collaborated with many other talented artists, and he eventually moved to Paris, where he worked on the album “Paris Gipsy Guitars” in 2022.

One of Malorgio’s most recent endeavors is a track called “ZTL.” Its name comes from an acronym for “limited traffic zone,” and the song was composed with a possible film adaptation in mind. It is part of a compositional idea inspired by the detective films of the 1970s. “ZTL” is one of the most relaxing tunes that have graced my ears in a long while. There are grand and atmospheric strings that are contrasted with deep and immediate electronic notes. Tension mounts as the song continues; however, it isn’t too overwhelming, as the increased pace is balanced out by a wonderful arrangement of sparkly high notes and controlled strings. As the song crescendos, the listener is greeted by lovely horns and a creative synth part. The song ends in an ominous way with jazzy-sounding notes, but the ending is also resolute, simplifying the complex arrangement from earlier in the song and bringing it back to somewhere similar to the beginning of the tune. Overall, “ZTL” is a relaxing yet simultaneously exciting journey that has been masterfully composed and executed.  

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