
It was a fateful night last winter on the MBTA Red Line when Berklee graduates Sergio Bellotti and Tino D'Agostino dreamt up the idea of putting a jazz/fusion project together. They were on their way to hear guitar virtuoso Mike Stern play a gig in Cambridge and thought it would be great to include this "very special guest" in the process. This idea set up the stage for the birth of Spajazzy.Spaiazzy's s Sound is described as-jazz and fusion with an Italian flare, but it is also a veritable mon-ster.of flat-out killer playing. The line-up serves as a who's who of the local fusion scene. The rhythm seetion Features Bellotti on drums, D'Agostino on bass, Greg Burk on piano, Patric Andren on key-boards/piano, and Bill Vint on saxophone. This core quintet provides a solid background for the talents of guest guitarist Jim Kelly and Mike Stern to shine against.The opening track on Spajazzy's self-titled CD, "Son Finite le Vergini " begins with Bellotti boldly announcing on his kit that the band has arrived. The rest of the band enters playing the head melody in unison, showing especially good chops on the part of D'Agostino on the bass. The CD takes a twist on the Kelly-penned "BIue Caboose," which really digs up some sincere blues. Kelly's soloing is not your run-of-the-mill "beers and tears" brand of the blues, but rather some straight up boogie woogie that would more likely have you setting down your beer to dance.Althongh Spajazzy's recording is geared toward showcasing the songwriting and playing of both Kelly and Stern, one cannot over-look that they are not the only ones burning on these songs. Some of the best moments on the CD are happening behind the soloists. It is embarked on their third tour inEurope. This past summer was highlighted overseas with a performance at the "Vallo Della Lucania"Jazz festival, and Spajazzy hopes to Link up again with their growing fanbase in Italy. They return to the States this month to play dates in Boston, one of which is a December 18 CD release party on Board the Odyssey.For tour information and new recordings, you can contact Spajazzy at www.spajazzy.com, or call (617)451-7501.Their current release can be found at Tower Records. On your-way home from buying the record, you might con-sider picking up some pasta and red wine to make the listening experience even better than it already is.