Saxophonist Paolo Profeti and his ensemble, the European Collective, are launching their new album Peer Out this Friday evening, as part of the Jazz Season at the Goethe-Institut. The event begins at 7:00 PM. We found out more in this interview with Paolo Profeti.

Paolo, what can you tell us about your group, the European Collective? This is your third album. Could you introduce your bandmates and share a bit about the music on this record?

As you mentioned, this is indeed our third album. The first was Waiting for Bucharest in 2015, followed by Glide in 2019, and now the latest, Peer Out, in 2024. The musicians joining me are Siegmar Brecher on bass clarinet from Austria, Michele Bonifati on guitar from Italy, Giacomo Papetti on bass, and Alessandro Rossi on drums. That's the core lineup. We've also had some special guests: Sorin Romanescu on guitar, Marina Arsene on vocals, actress Ana Ularu, and Sebastian Burneci on trumpet. All the tracks are my original compositions. Lately, I've been drawing inspiration from the current socio-political climate. I try to stay aware of what's happening-unfortunately, there's been quite a lot-and I've composed with certain events and themes in mind.

It's mostly instrumental music, except for two tracks. How do you communicate these ideas about current events without words, in a mostly wordless medium?

I like to say it's in a cinematic manner. I try to translate into music the images that come to mind when I reflect on certain things. Of course, it's abstract-perhaps it's all just in my head-but I try to make the music I write as close as possible to the reality I perceive and feel.

Sonically, the core band features two wind instruments up front, somewhat contrasting in character, and a rhythm section with a level of energy that, in some ways, evokes rock music.

Contrasting-yes and no. The bass clarinet explores registers that my alto saxophone can't reach because they're too low. As you know, I wrote the previous albums using another low-register instrument, the trombone. I like having a second voice that sometimes plays contrapuntally, complementing the main theme. I haven't only listened to jazz in my life. I'm also very passionate about progressive music-bands like Jethro Tull or King Crimson. So I enjoy exploring not just one corner of jazz, but a broader palette. That's simply how the writing came to me. The musicians I play with are not only skilled in jazz but also bring a strong affinity for more energetic music, including rock. Tomorrow, at the Goethe-Institut, we will present Peer Out as a world premiere here in Romania, in this particular lineup. We'll also have guest performances by Sebastian Burneci and Marina Arsene. That's tomorrow at the Goethe-Institut, and we'll have a similar concert on Saturday as part of Romanian Design Week, at the Museum of Maps.

Since it's Thursday morning, we should also mention that you'll be performing in the contemporary concert series in Romania with the Radio Big Band. You'll have a feature moment.

Yes, we'll be performing three pieces: Waiting for Bucharest, Hopefulness, and Silent Shouting. The arrangements are by Tobias Hoffmann.