Record Reviews

SERGIO CASALE ~ SCIUSCIA LOSEN 192 (Barcode: 7090025831928) ~ ITALY ~ Soundtracks Recorded: 2013 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Italian flautist / saxophonist / composer Sergio CasaleFind albums by this artist dedicated to Italian cinematic music of the second half of the 20th Century. He is accompanied by clarinetist Antonio ArietanoFind albums by this artist and violist Sergio FanelliFind albums by this artist, and together they play eighteen compositions taken from soundtracks of cult Italian films by such illustrious directors like Pier Paolo PasoliniFind albums by this artist, Frederico FelliniFind albums by this artist, Michelangelo AntonioniFind albums by this artist, Vittorio De SicaFind albums by this artist and others. The music was composed by best Italian cinematic music creators, like Ennio MorriconeFind albums by this artist, Nino RotaFind albums by this artist, Alessandro CicogniniFind albums by this artist and others. The music is of course familiar to every Cultural human being on this planet, and as such it takes a lot of courage to tackle it in new way, as the attempt presented here. The trio led by Casale transforms the music into chamber, almost completely Classical music environment, very minimalistic and "clean", where absolutely every note counts and is clearly audible. At the first moment the music sounds a bit estranged, but very soon the listener is spellbound into this enchanted universe and completely enthralled by it. The familiar themes are transported into another dimension, which clearly points out how strong the original compositions are as far as harmonic structures and melodic perfection. This new chamber treatment, although pretty far removed from the original concept of the music, works beautifully on its own and is a delicious listening experience. Overall this is a bold and unexpected piece of music, which takes something many people are familiar with and transforms it into a new aesthetics, managing to preserve the beauty and the spirit of the original music. Listening to this music is a wonderful way to escape the frantic, chaotic everyday existence and absorb some pure unadulterated musical essence.

Updated: 06/04/2018Posted: 06/04/2018

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RICHARD GALLIANO ~ NINO ROTA DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 028947646150 (Barcode: 028947646150) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is an album by French accordionist / composer Richard GallianoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist, American trumpeter Dave DouglasFind albums by this artist, Russian (resident in US) bassist Boris KozlovFind albums by this artist and American drummer Clarence PennFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to the cinematic music by the great Italian composer Nino RotaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twenty tracks, all but one composed by Rota and one is an original composition by Galliano, dedicated to Rota. Rota’s music was one of the most distinctive soundtracks of the Italian / European and later on also Hollywood cinema. His cooperation with Italian directors like Frederico FelliniFind albums by this artist, Luchino ViscontiFind albums by this artist and Franco ZeffirelliFind albums by this artist and later Francis Ford CoppolaFind albums by this artist, made his brilliant film scores world famous and everlasting. Galliano and the quintet’s treatment of Rota’s music is wonderfully balanced between the original melody lines and their Jazz interpretations, full of superb musicianship and imagination. Sometimes hidden from the eye (ear), at other times easily recognizable, the epic melodies fly one after another like scenes from b/w movies, and those of us, who experienced these brilliant films at their first exposures, are swept on a carpet ride through a sentimental journey, full of memories and emotions. These were definitely better times… Overall, this is a sublime interpretation of the cinematic music by Nino Rota, played by great Jazz instrumentalist and arranged, adapted and orchestrated with great care and aesthetic respect by Galliano. This is a breath of fresh air in every respect, perhaps not a typical Jazz album, but certainly one that leaves the listener with a wide smile and a tear in the eye…

Updated: 30/10/2023Posted: 30/10/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend