ALSOGOOD - 1000 Smiles

Born in Reggio Calabria but Milanese by adoption, Francesco Lo Giudice – the real name of producer and multi-instrumentalist Alsogood – arrives at his fourth solo album, “1000 Smiles”, two years on from “Elsewhere” (released on Island Records), a natural outcome of the many international collaborations woven together over these past months. The project's mission, as explicitly stated by the artist himself, is to assert harmony in an age dominated by digital chaos and speed, sifting through everyday experiences to extract only their beauty. To pin down these ideas, only seemingly utopian, Francesco crafts ten tracks of great refinement which, while embracing a vast array of styles and influences, keep a heavily hybridized form of contemporary jazz firmly at their center — perfect both as background music for a sunset aperitivo and for attentive home listening.

“1000 Smiles” is a deeply organic work in which black music, Mediterranean atmospheres and Brazilian rhythmic spirituality meet – alongside the already-mentioned freedom of jazz – the suggestions of electronica and the compositional free form of hip-hop. Ten tracks written and produced between Milan and Vicenza that don't merely explore new sonic territories but define a genuine aesthetic stance. Two standout collaborations add extra shine: one with Canadian producer and multi-instrumentalist Datsunn, a reference point for the soul-beat community, on "Beautiful Things", and one with Johnny Marsiglia, the esteemed Italian rapper who makes "2.30 am" a one-off within this project.

The track that immediately sets the mood for the whole record is the opener "Feliz", the album's first single, whose carioca mood soaks the atmosphere in saudade, setting the tone for the chapters that follow. Among the reference points that guided the writing of the record, Alsogood himself has cited Azymuth, for their innate ability to turn jazz-funk into an almost meditative experience, Terrace Martin and Madlib, the latter in particular for his tendency to move across different styles while crafting expansive rhythm sections.

The sonic clarity brings out every nuance, amplifying the warmth, brightness and sharpness of these precious compositions. The work's predominantly instrumental form greatly aids its international reach, establishing Alsogood as one of the finest names on the Italian jazz scene.

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19/05/2026