Friday, June 16, 2023

Michele Calgaro - Full Score

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:59
Size: 146,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:25) 1. Short Wave
(5:21) 2. Blizzard
(6:56) 3. Letter To Evans
(5:15) 4. Full Score
(8:51) 5. Souvenirs
(9:42) 6. Live Score
(8:39) 7. Steppin' Zone
(5:45) 8. One For Hall
(6:07) 9. Querida
(1:53) 10. Arise

Michele Calgaro is very active both in teaching and performing, but a little less in recording, especially as a leader. But when he releases a new album, he always does it because he has something new and interesting to say. It took five years to bring back to the studio the quintet that gave us the excellent «Progressions» (2011, Caligola), and we had to wait four more to enjoy the result of this recording session, to which were added other four tunes recorded last year with a different rhythm section, this time a Russian one.

By his side there still are the energetic trumpeter Alex Sipiagin here composer of two songs too and the skilful saxophonist Robert Bonisiolo, both precious and tested adventure companions who, together with Michele, are also the only musicians who appear in all the nine tracks (Arise, the tenth, is a short and delicate guitar solo). «Full Score» is a deep and sincere record, varied and extremely coherent at the same time. If the start with Short Wave is burning to say the least, the atmosphere turns softer and rarefied in Letter to Evans, dedicated to Bill Evans; another successful tribute is paid to Jim Hall with One for Hall.

Michele Calgaro said about his work: “My writing almost always comes from interior aesthetics and stories, conceived for improvisation: a delicate balance, a stimulus for a collective story that also allows the expression of each identity, where the actions of interpretation and impromptu are the true substance of the songs… The luck of being able to walk these paths together with extraordinary musicians, who manage to naturally combine intensity and relaxation, is a priceless value added, and being able to impress some of these moments in a record makes the results of this surprising creative process repeatable and shareable to me…”.https://caligolarecords.bandcamp.com/album/full-score

Personnel: Michele Calgaro (guitars) on all tracks; Alex Sipiagin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Robert Bonisolo (tenor sax) on tracks 1–9; Lorenzo Calgaro (double bass), Mauro Beggio (drums) on tracks 1–5; Makar Novikov (double bass), Sasha Mashin (drums) on tracks 6–9.

Full Score

Antonio Zambrini, Jesper Bodilsen, Martin Maretti Andersen - Incontro

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:54
Size: 114,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:48) 1. Incontro
(6:01) 2. Helping Hand
(4:39) 3. Long Ago and Far Away
(5:40) 4. Pat
(7:15) 5. Bolero de Sata
(5:32) 6. Lawns
(4:28) 7. Amaciado
(6:37) 8. Waiting
(5:50) 9. Romania

Jazz pianist and composer from Milan, Zambrini, has drawn the attention of critics and musicians, especially with his “songs,” published his several trios and quartet recordings, as well as reprised and played by various musicians in the jazz area. Trumpeter and composer Ron Horton had Zambrini guest in his Cd “It’s a gadget world,” recorded in New York in 2006, including some of Zambrini’s songs. Pianist Stefano Bollani opens with a tune by Zambrini, his solo album produced by ECM, the famous label in Germany, issued in 2006. Mr. Lee Konitz recorded a series of Zambrini’s tunes in a sequence of three CDs they realized together for the label “Philology” in 2008.

English pianist John Law dedicated to Zambrini’s music his cd “The moment” in 2002. Zambrini was a guest in several broadcastings by National Radio and he was for 7 years partner of Cineteca Italiana, Milan, improvising live piano soundtracks of silent movies.

More recent projects are regarding young guitarist Filippo Cosentino, with an out coming cd along with Jesper Bodilsen and Andrea Marcelli, a new trio with bass player Paolino Dalla Porta and French drummer Manhu Roche, a cd entitled "Dois Lugares," with the great Samba composer and performer Moacyr Luz. Several concerts in the last two years with this "Dois Lugares " project, led by Italian vocalist Francesca Ajmar and with Moacyr Luz himself, who wrote most of the music for this project.

Also, about Brasil, a long collaboration with the choir director from Sao Paulo, Martinho L. Galati De Olivera, Kept Zambrini through several concerts, finally in Sao Paulo in 2014, playing with some great names of that scene's music like Teco Cardoso, Lea Frerie, and Fabiana Cozza. https://www.antoniozambrini.com/album

Among others, Zambrini performed with Lee Konitz, Mark Murphy, William Parker, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Enrico Rava, Ron Horton, Nenna Frenlone, Hamid Drake, Claudio Fasoli, Tiziano Tononi, Ben Allison, Gabriele Mirabassi, Kyle Gregory, Rita Marcotulli, Javier Girotto, Eliot Zigmund, Jesper Bodilsen, Maria Pia De Vito, Pietro Tonolo, Manhu Roche, Paolino Dalla Porta, Andrea Marcelli, Fabrizio Bosso.

Incontro

Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke - Lean In

Styles: Vocal, Guitar
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:51
Size: 94,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:58) 1. Akwê
(5:03) 2. I Miss You
(4:27) 3. If I Knew (feat. Burniss Travis & Mark Guiliana)
(1:19) 4. Okagbé Interlude
(4:54) 5. Astronauta
(0:57) 6. Mi Wa Sé Interlude (feat. Marley Guiliana, Burniss Travis, Mark Guiliana)
(4:47) 7. Muse
(3:53) 8. Nonvignon
(4:49) 9. Lean in (feat. Mark Guiliana)
(4:16) 10. Painful Joy
(1:12) 11. Dù Wé Interlude (feat. Burniss Travis & Mark Guiliana)
(4:30) 12. Walking After You

With a voice as sweet and cool as a spring breeze, Gretchen Parlato would sound at home in any cozy jazz club from Paris to Sao Paulo. The sound of Lionel Loueke's voice and guitar is at least 60 percent rhythm, with his plucking and crooning having an innate percussive pulse running through it. Two decades of collaboration and close friendship are on display with Parlato and Loueke's first full duo-recording; Lean In shows the breadth of their globe-spanning interests and dazzling versatility, but most important is the heartfelt warmth through every moment.

The closeness is on display from the first minute, where the duo weave a catchy lead melody and begin scatting their way through the opener in flighty but clearly honed unison. They continue swooping and dipping up and down the scales through pop covers and eloquent originals alike. Loueke's guitar lines and vocal pops make the sound feel as full as that of a whole band already, but a delightfully simpatico rhythm section fills things out that much more in some well-chosen spots, percolating through wandering interludes and fetchingly slinky funk grooves alike.

The group makes a sunny whirl across practically the whole globe, bridging Benin with Brazil and singing in languages from three continents. Parlato's croon stays dreamy and appealing, even when singing of lost loves and ended relationships. Loueke coasts in step with equally fluid melodicism and unreserved cheer. It's a work all about connection, discovery and the simple joy of exploring together. By Geno Thackara https://www.allaboutjazz.com/lean-in-gretchen-parlato-edition-records

Personnel: Gretchen Parlato: voice / vocals; Lionel Loueke: guitar, acoustic.

Additional Instrumentation: Burniss Travis: bass; Mark Guiliana: drums.

Lean In

Dr. John - The Montreux Years

Styles: Jazz Funk, Soul
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:53
Size: 181,7 MB
Art: Front

( 3:35) 1. Professor Longhair Boogie (Live at Casino Montreux 1986)
( 4:52) 2. You Ain't Such a Much (Live at Casino Montreux 1986)
( 3:30) 3. Sick and Tired (Live at Casino Montreux 1986)
( 4:11) 4. Stack-a-Lee (Live at Casino Montreux 1986)
( 3:51) 5. Accentuate the Positive (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 2007)
( 4:04) 6. Right Place Wrong Time (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 2004)
( 4:53) 7. Rain (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 2007)
(10:34) 8. Going Back to New Orleans (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 1993)
( 4:01) 9. Makin' Whoopee (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 1995)
( 7:18) 10. Big Chief (Live at Miles Davis Hall 2011)
( 7:35) 11. In a Sentimental Mood / Mississippi Mud / Happy Hard Times (Medley) (Live at Miles Davis Hall 2012)
( 8:34) 12. Love for Sale (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 2007)
( 6:07) 13. Let the Good Times Roll (Live at Auditorium Stravinski 1995)
( 5:41) 14. Good Night Irene (Live at Casino Montreux 1986)

New Orleans is considered the birthplace of jazz. In the late 1800s, the city was a melting pot of different cultures, including African, European, and Caribbean. This cultural diversity had a profound impact on the music of the city. The new sounds of Dixieland and ragtime became the foundation in the evolution of jazz. Artists such as Buddy Bolden, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton became the leaders of this new music.

It was the pianists who later became the heart and soul of the New Orleans style of music, combining many different aspects and genres into an increasingly diverse jazz gumbo soup. Pianists like Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair and James Booker continued that evolution. However, no musician epitomizes all the styles present in the history of New Orleans music like Dr. John (Mac Rebennack). Dr. John: The Montreux Years is a remarkable testament to both the breadth and talent he was able to convey, especially in a live setting. The 14 tracks on the album (recorded between 1986 and 2012) are a cumulative masterclass that showcases his diversity of style, all the while staying true to the essence of the New Orleans DNA evident in his playing and singing.

The album starts with four tracks from 1986 with Dr. John performing solo. First up is the instrumental boogie-woogie/barrelhouse piano of "Professor Longhair Boogie." This is followed by the bluesy piano and vocals of "You Ain't Such A Much" and the Fats Domino hit "Sick and Tired," also done as a boogie-woogie. The traditional "Stack-A-Lee" is also done in barrelhouse style and closes the solo mini-set.

The remaining songs are a potpourri of styles and ensembles backing the good doctor. There are old pop standards like "Accentuate the Positive" and "Love for Sale" The latter arrangement might be the most interesting one on the record. It starts with a bluesy bass line and wailing tenor sax before Dr. John comes in to somehow fit the melody over that backdrop. Toward the end of the song, he and guest Jon Cleary, lay down a talking, singing lyric over the bass vamping underneath. It is a great example of Dr. John's ability to adapt his style to any setting. As he remarks to the crowd after the song ends, "That ain't the way Cole Porter composed it, but it's damn sure the way we do it."

"Makin' Whoopie" and "Let The Good Times Roll" are from 1995 and are given stellar big-band arrangements. "Right Place, Wrong Time" from 2004 is here with a similar arrangement to the original. "Rain" is the ballad of the set. Lovingly played and sung, the song is reminiscent of Leon Russell's "A Song For You."

"Big Chief" from 2012 (see the YouTube video below) features Trombone Shorty and is the quintessential New Orleans stomp. Once again paying homage to the song's composer Professor Longhair, Dr. John showcases his piano skills in this joyful performance.

It is a solo rendition of the medley "In a Sentimental Mood/Mississippi Mud/Happy Hard Times" from 2011 that may be the most impressive track on the album. In its seven and a half minutes, he explores the history of New Orleans-style piano. The playing is simple but deep. It is subtle but expressive. It is not flashy but is profound.

A solo performance from 1986, Lead Belly's folk standard "Goodnight Irene," closes the album as it began. Dedicated to James Booker, it is a rollicking boogie-woogie stomper.

Lovingly curated by the Montreux Jazz Festival and overseen by founder Claude Nobs' partner, Thierry Amsallem, this is the tenth installment of The Montreux Years series. The whole album is a wonderful live compilation that shows the many facets of musicianship that made Dr. John the iconic figure he remains.By Dave Linn
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dr-john-the-montreux-years-dr-john-bmg

Personnel: Dr. John: piano.

Additional Instrumentation: Dr. John: vocals; Dr. John: organ (6, 10), keyboards, guitar (10, 11); Jon Cleary: keyboards, vocals (11); Ronnie Cuber: baritone saxophone (8, 9, 13); tenor saxophone: Alvin "Red" Tyler (9, 13); saxophone: Derek Huston (11); saxophone: Eric Traub (8); trombone: Trombone Shorty (10); trombone: Sarah Morrow (11); trumpet: Charlie Miller (8, 9, 13); Bobby Broom: guitar (9, 13); Cranston Clements: guitar (8); John Fohl: guitar (5-7, 10, 11, 12); David Barard: bass (5-13); Herman "Roscoe" Ernest III: drums (5, 6, 9, 12); Fred Staehle: drums (8); Shannon Powell: drums (10); Raymond Weber: drums (11); percussion: Smiley Ricks (8, 9, 13).

The Montreux Years