Emanuele Cisi Feat. Roberta Gambarini - No Eyes: Looking at Lester Young

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:22
Size: 134,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:36)  1. No Eyes (feat. Roberta Gambarini)
(6:52)  2. Lester Left Town (feat. Roberta Gambarini)
(4:13)  3. Jumpin' at the Woodside
(5:58)  4. Presidential Dream (feat. Roberta Gambarini)
(3:42)  5. Tickle Toe
(6:37) 6. Goodbye Porkpie Hat (feat. Roberta Gambarini)
(4:23)  7. Prezeology
(6:29)  8. Easy Living (feat. Roberta Gambarini)
(7:11)  9. These Foolish Things
(4:48) 10. That's All
(1:29) 11. Jumpin' with Symphony Sid/Lester Said

This sought-after tribute by Emanuele Cisi to Lester Young is so rich in historical references and literary references that a review risks neglecting the main and characterizing element: No Eyes is primarily a wonderful musical journey, which fascinates by emotional participation, melodic essentiality and lyricism. The project was able to get in tune with the artistic identity of the great saxophonist, without getting lost in didactic imitations and enhancing the specifics of the leader, singer Roberta Gambarini and the rhythm section formed by Dino Rubino , Rosario Bonaccorso and Gregory Hutchinson. Only a heartfelt participation with the spirit of Lester's music-in the sense of expressive modernity and artistic autonomy rather than stylistic traits-could produce a disc with such an intense feeling. The project, long cherished by Cisi, is inspired by a poem by David Meltzer-precisely "No Eyes" -dedicated to Lester Young. 

The title takes up an expression of the particular vocabulary of the saxophonist (meant "I do not care") and poetry opens the record, incorporated in the performance of "These Foolish Things." The piece begins with the evocative exposition of the theme by the saxophonist who leaves Roberta Gambarini to repropose on that text the famous improvisation by Young in December 1945. The singer from Turin, who has long been at the top of international jazz, gives an exemplary demonstration of eloquence. technique and color variety, expressed with relaxed appeal and rare grace. His presence is fundamental and illuminates other tracks on the record. In particular the masterly version of "Roland Kirk , the bewitching "Easy Living" or the unison in scat with the tenor saxophone of Cisi in "Lester Left Town." The virtuosity and inventiveness of the leader shine in the exciting reinterpretation in duo sax / drums, of "Jumpin 'at the Woodside," where his Coltranian ancestries shine and in other pieces in quartet: some are classics of Lester Young reformulated with respect ("Tickle Toe") or with fanciful grafts of Prez's voice ("Jumpin 'with Symphony Sid"); others are original songs of the leader. It could not miss a classic ballad ("That's All") exposed without unnecessary attempts to echo the historical versions of the saxophonist. ~ Angelo Leonardi https://www.allaboutjazz.com/no-eyes-looking-at-lester-young-emanuele-cisi-warner-jazz-review-by-angelo-leonardi.php

Personnel: Emanuele Cisi: tenor saxophone; Roberta Gambarini: voice; Dino Rubino: piano, flugelhorn (5, 11); Rosario Bonaccorso (bass); Greg Hutchinson: drums.

No Eyes: Looking at Lester Young

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