Released on June 6, 2025, GIOMANÈ is a confident and fully realized statement from Swiss guitarist, composer, and bandleader Gianfranco GFN. Although often introduced as a single title, GIOMANÈ is in fact his fifth full-length album, and it plays like the culmination of years spent refining a personal musical language. Rooted at the crossroads of groove, soul, and acid jazz, the record presents what GFN calls his “GIAZZ!” universe, a sound that feels both organic and unmistakably his own.
Spanning 13 tracks, GIOMANÈ is built on warmth, movement, and human interaction. Soul, pop, funk, and blues are woven together with a jazz-informed sense of freedom, resulting in music that feels lived-in rather than constructed. The grooves are deep but never heavy-handed, and the melodies are expressive without drifting into excess. There is a clear emphasis on feel, on the way rhythm and harmony breathe together, rather than on technical display.
The album’s long gestation adds to its richness. Beginning with the release of “Sing The Song” in December 2022, GIOMANÈ took nearly two years to complete. That time is audible in the cohesion of the material. Each track feels carefully shaped, yet never over-polished. Songs like “Sing The Song,” “SOFT,” and “Boulevard de l’amour / Fall in Love” stand out as emotional anchors, balancing introspection with an irresistible sense of groove.
One of the defining strengths of GIOMANÈ is its commitment to organic recording. Sessions took place at Le Bocal Studio in Boudry, Switzerland, with the horn sections recorded in Côte d’Ivoire, adding a rich, vibrant edge to the arrangements. Mixing and mastering were finalized in Italy, completing a truly international production process. Every track began with GFN’s guitar and a click, before layers were added piece by piece, allowing the songs to grow naturally. In some cases, musicians played together live, reinforcing the album’s human pulse.
The ensemble behind GIOMANÈ is equally important. Fifteen musicians from diverse backgrounds contribute to the album, each bringing their own color while serving the collective sound. The interaction between guitar, rhythm section, keyboards, vocals, and brass is fluid and conversational, reinforcing the sense that this is music made by people playing together, not parts assembled in isolation.
Lyrically and thematically, GIOMANÈ avoids grand statements or ideology. Instead, it focuses on moments of life, love, and personal experience. The absence of politics or dogma gives the album a timeless quality. It invites the listener in through feeling rather than argument, groove rather than instruction.
Ultimately, GIOMANÈ stands out for its sincerity. It is confident without being loud, refined without losing its soul. Gianfranco GFN has created a record that feels grounded in experience and driven by instinct, a project where groove is not just a musical choice but a way of living. For listeners drawn to soulful, organic music with depth and warmth, GIOMANÈ is a rewarding and lasting listen. Feel free to support the band whichever way you can.
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