Record Reviews

ERODOTO PROJECT ~ MOLON LABE CULTURAL BRIDGE 1801 (Barcode: 661596809837) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by the Italian Erodoto ProjectFind albums by this artist, led by saxophonist / composer Bob SalmieriFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Alessandro De AngelisFind albums by this artist, bassist Marco LoddoFind albums by this artist, drummer Giampaolo ScatozzaFind albums by this artist and percussionist Carlo ColomboFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, seven of which were composed by Salmieri, one by De Angelis and two co-composed by them both. The music is a lush, sensuous and beautifully melodic European Jazz with a strong Mediterranean and to some extent Latin feeling. The compositions are all excellent, with typical Italian Jazz harmonic sweetness, which is simply heartbreaking. This music is here to caress and explore the beauty of the tunes, without trying to impress or overwhelm. The masterly balance between the accessibility of this music and its elegance is achieved in full, without compromising the artistic Jazz values. The individual performances are all excellent, with Salmieri playing subtle saxophone parts but also using the ney (Middle Eastern flute) and De Angelis playing both acoustic and electric pianos. The presence of the percussion on all the tunes is very appropriate for this music and adds to its value. The rhythm section is supportive, but not obtrusive, doing exactly what is required in this type of music. Overall this is a kind of album that should not be overanalyzed, but simply enjoyed to the max, preferably with a glass of wine in one´s hand.

Updated: 13/10/2018Posted: 13/10/2018

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ERODOTO PROJECT ~ STORIES CULTURAL BRIDGE 0006 (Barcode: 600740998942) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by Italian Jazz quartet Erodoto ProjectFind albums by this artist, led by saxophonist Bob SalmieriFind albums by this artist, with pianist Alessandro De AngelisFind albums by this artist, bassist Ermanno DodaroFind albums by this artist and drummer Giampaolo ScatozzaFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Gabriel Oscar RosatiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Carlo ColomboFind albums by this artist appear as guests. The album presents eleven tracks, six of which are originals by Salmieri and four by De Angelis, and one is a Pop song by the legendary crooner Domenico ModugnoFind albums by this artist. The music is melodic mainstream European Jazz, which incorporates subtle World Music influences, mostly Middle Eastern and Latin. All the melodies are beautifully and carefully woven, which is quite typical of Italian Jazz, known for its strong ties with melody and harmony. There is a wide stylistic diversity within the compositions, which of course generates new interest with each of the tracks. The overall level of the compositions is truly impressive. The performances do not fall behind the compositions and all four members of the quartet and the quests are highly skilled and more importantly highly sensitive players, who are able to make the most out of the compositions and present an excellent ensemble effort, as well as play impressive solos. Salmieri, who plays tenor and soprano saxophones, ney (Middle Eastern end-blown wooden flute) and clarinet, proves to be a multitalented player and his solos are all top notch; De Angelis is wonderfully harmonious and elegant, and the rhythm section drives the music firmly and skillfully. Overall this is a very pleasant and rewarding musical experience, which proves that sophisticated and well done mainstream Jazz is still relevant, especially when created by European musicians. The album also offers splendid sound quality and altogether should satisfy most Jazz connoisseurs the world over. Well done!

Updated: 22/02/2018Posted: 22/02/2018

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NINA PEDERSEN ~ EYES WIDE OPEN LOSEN 184 (Barcode: 7090025831843) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Norwegian (resident in Rome) Jazz singer / songwriter Nina PedersenFind albums by this artist, accompanied by the excellent piano trio consisting of pianist Pierpaolo PrincipatoFind albums by this artist, bassist Marco LoddoFind albums by this artist and drummer Giampaolo ScatozzaFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Aldo BassiFind albums by this artist plays on a couple of tunes and saxophonist Paolo InnarellaFind albums by this artist plays on another two tracks. The album presents eight songs, seven of which are originals (music and lyrics in English) by Pedersen and one is by the wonderful duo of John SurmanFind albums by this artist and Karin KrogFind albums by this artist. The original songs are all beautifully woven by their author, with superb melodic themes and intelligent lyrics. They are all standard quality and the album flows smoothly from start to finish like a collection of well known tunes, which of course is a rare quality. The piano trio and guests play fabulously, supporting the vocalist amicably and adding occasional solos, all perfectly suiting the music. Bassi is especially imaginative during his parts on the two songs and I wish he would have played for the entire duration of the album. Pedersen has a wonderfully mature, dark and enticing voice, in some respects similar to that of Karin Krog herself, who wrote a short comment for the album´s liner notes, with which I agree completely. This is one of those albums, which do not try to be spectacular even for a moment, but deliver exactly what is appropriate within its scope: wonderful songs and perfect execution, full of heartfelt emotion, honesty and great taste, creating a first class aesthetic experience. Very well done!

Updated: 06/11/2017Posted: 06/11/2017

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GIANCARLO ROMANI ~ NAIF ALFA MUSIC 230 (Barcode: 8032050020112) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by Italian trumpeter / composer Giancarlo RomaniFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Gianluca MassettiFind albums by this artist, bassists Giuseppe SalvaggioFind albums by this artist (electric) and Jacopo FerrazzaFind albums by this artist (acoustic) and drummer Giampaolo ScatozzaFind albums by this artist. Several guests appear on selected tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Romani. A bonus tracks offers one of the compositions in an alternate version. The music is absolutely beautiful, threading a line between modern Jazz and sophisticated Fusion, but first and foremost it is deeply melodic and lyrical, which of course is hardly surprising when talking about Italian Jazz. There is something in the Italian soul that enables the composers to weave such heartbreakingly melodic and harmonically perfect tunes, that capture the listener completely helpless. But beyond the strictly melodic contents the album offers wonderful instrumental work as well. Romani has a sweet mellow tone, which is ideal for this kind of music, and his performances are like hot chocolate on top of a cake. Massetti is a superb keyboardist and his soloing and accompaniment keep the music together harmonically and set the dynamics. His Fender Rhodes parts are a beautiful reminder of the times when this instrument changed the face of Jazz taking the music on its electric path. Both bassists, each in his domain, supply the perfect foundation and Scatozza, one of Italian best drummers today, is elegantly setting the pace, always highly respective. The leader skillfully inserted the guests exactly in the right places, optimizing the overall sound of the album, without overdoing things. The guest saxophonists skillfully build a more dominant brass sound, which enhances the music significantly and the other instruments create tasteful ornamentation. Overall this is a superbly mature debut album, on which Romani demonstrates his skills as a composer, arranger and trumpet player and which is a true joy to listen to. Well done and highly recommended!

Updated: 15/04/2021Posted: 15/04/2021

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GIAMPAOLO SCATOZZA ~ TRAVELS CULTURAL BRIDGE 0007 (Barcode: 744430644068) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by Italian drummer / composer Giampaolo ScatozzaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core trio which includes keyboardist Luciano ZanoniFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Giovanni Di CosimoFind albums by this artist and a long list of guest musicians which includes Norwegian (resident in Italy) vocalist Nina PedersenFind albums by this artist, British iconic saxophonist Trevor WattsFind albums by this artist, Italian pianist Pierpaolo PrincipatoFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Scatozza. Being primarily know as a session drummer, who collaborated with a plethora of Pop / Rock / Electronic musicians over the years, traveling between London, NY, Toronto and Paris, this is Scatozza´s debut as a Jazz composer, and the focus of this album is obviously on the compositions. The music encompasses a wide range of styles, moving between Jazz-Rock and Jazz-World Fusions and Ambient, with strong melodic themes serving as the basis of the individual compositions. As a whole the album manages to create a coherent continuity, which is a joyous and fascinating listening experience. The individual performances are all excellent, with Di Cosimo grabbing most of the attention by his superb soloing. But the keyboards also play a central role in creating the somewhat ambient atmosphere, which is strongly supported by very unique bass and drums statements, which sound almost like Drum and Bass on some pieces. The general atmosphere is pretty intimate and minimalistic, putting the compositions in the forefront. Overall this is a very pleasant and interesting album, which might appeal to the younger listeners thanks to the ambient sound, but all Jazz connoisseurs should be able to enjoy it, thanks to the strong melodic compositions. Very well done!

Updated: 22/02/2018Posted: 22/02/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend