Photo by Paolo Soriani When the Italian-born, Sweden-transplanted Ilaria Capalbo set out to write her first album as a bandleader she knew she wanted a specific focus to draw inspiration from. A lover of history and the region in which she was raised, Capalbo turned to the legend of Karthago. It tells the story of the ancient city of Carthage, which was founded and ruled by the powerful Queen Alyssa, until it was destroyed by the Roman empire in 146 B.C. It’s a tale of courage, resilience, and overcoming obstacles to achieve your purpose. Beyond musical inspiration, the legend resonated deeply with Capalbo as someone who overcame severe stage fright while performing early on in her career, and who also searched long and hard for her voice as a composer and soloist. As an album, Karthago showcases a composer who grasps subtle nuances and profound melodies, who is comfortable in her own skin, and who can command a band without being overly verbose in her playing. Less hard-swinging an