Review in AUDIOreview magazine issue no. 451 (March 2023) by Enzo Pavoni.”

If “Tears And Light” bore the ECM stamp, no one would raise an objection; at least aesthetically, it embodies an expressive quality deeply cherished by Nordic artists—and not just jazz musicians. Yet, this album by the Yugen trio—led by pianist, keyboardist, and composer Katia Fiorentino, and supported by bassist Stefano Compagnone and drummer Maurizio De Tommasi, along with a few guest appearances—is actually a production of the Lecce-based label Dodicilune. The ensemble possesses the clarity and skill to surpass, in terms of quality, even some of the illustrious acts associated with that German label. “Tears And Light” is defined by the finest kind of minimalism—one that never veers into the sort of conformist, descriptive style that eventually grows tiresome. Instead, it benefits from musical choices centered on a vibrant, hypnotic quality and a clear, concentric layering of sounds that keep both pathos and a palpable “sense of anticipation” alive throughout.