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  | MARIA PIA DE VITO ~ PHONE EGEA 063 (Barcode: 8015948000632) ~ ITALY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998
This is the third album by the sublime Italian vocalist / composer Maria Pia De VitoFind albums by this artist recorded with an excellent team of musicians, which includes the British pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist and Italian clarinetist Gianluigi TrovesiFind albums by this artist, bassist Enzo PietropaoliFind albums by this artist and drummer Frederico SanesiFind albums by this artist. Bassist Daniele MencarelliFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents nine tracks, most of which are original creations by De Vito (music and lyrics), two are her arrangements of Macedonian folk tunes, one is a composition by Taylor and a couple of songs originate from other sources.
The music is absolutely stunning from start to finish, presenting a highly aesthetic and typically European approach to Artistic expression, which knows no stylistic boundaries. There are elements of early music, World Music influences and of course Jazz and Avant-Garde explorations, all of which make "perfect sense" together and create an amazing colorful amalgam of sounds and emotions.
De Vito has an amazing vocal range, which she employs to the max, both when singing lyrics and vocalizing freely. Her ability to create spontaneous vocalese is amongst the finest out there, earning her an honorable membership in the exclusive circle of the Vocal Summit circle.
The intimate musical relationship De Vito manages to create with Taylor is beautifully remarkable. Taylor, known as one of the finest accompanists ever, proves his rare ability of telepathic communication with singers (see his work with Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist) and this symbiosis is the anchor of this entire album. But Trovesi is also a first rate magician and his clarinet playing here is tasteful and brilliantly harmonizing to the album´s atmosphere.
Overall this is a superb album, full of great music and highly unusual vocal performances, which is a textbook of innovative vocal approaches and demonstrates thinking "out of the box". For lovers of human voice, Jazz and Avant-Garde vocal explorations and great music in general, this is an absolute must. For aspiring young vocalists, this is no less than the Biblical "pillar of fire" as far as the quest of developing a meaningful career as a vocalist.
Although released over two decades ago this album is still available, so don´t even think twice about it!
| Updated: 03/07/2020Posted: 03/07/2020 | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
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