Enrico Pieranunzi - Chet Remembered

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:17
Size: 143,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:25) 1. From E. To C.
(5:55) 2. Lost and Found
(8:14) 3. Chet
(6:45) 4. Soft Journey
(8:35) 5. Fairy Flowers
(6:50) 6. Night Bird
(7:20) 7. Echoes
(6:09) 8. Brown Cat Dance
(5:01) 9. The Real You

Born in Rome in 1949, Enrico Pieranunzi has long been one of the best-known and appreciated personalities on the European jazz scene. Pianist, composer, arranger, he has recorded more than seventy CDs under his own name, ranging from solo piano to trio, and from duet to quintet. He has played in concert and in the studio with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron, Paul Motian, Chris Potter and Charlie Haden, performing at all the most important international festivals, from Montreal to Copenhagen, from Berlin to Madrid.

Pieranunzi’s formative years embraced both classical and jazz piano, and the influence of Debussy is readily apparent in the lush romanticism at the heart of his music. Emerging in the early ‘70s, Pieranunzi’s lyrical approach quickly brought him to the forefront of the European scene, and in 1984 he formed a trio with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, the first of several outstanding groups with American musicians. In 1989, 2003 and 2008 he was voted Musician of the Year in the Musica Jazz critic’s poll and he was 1997 recipient of the Django d’Or Award for best European Jazz Musician.

In 2004 he toured Japan performing with his American trio, including bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron. In the last four, five years Pieranunzi performed more and more in the States (New York, Birdland; San Francisco, Spoleto USA Festival). On July 2010 he played the Village Vanguard and recorded live there, with Marc Johnson and Paul Motian. He is the only Italian musician ever and one of the very few European to have performed and recorded in such a historical venue.

In addition to recording many albums, he has written more than 300 compositions including “Night Bird” (recorded several times by Chet baker and performed by many others), “Hindsight” (recorded by Phil Woods) etc. Many of his compositions have become veritable international standards, three of which " two in 1991 and one in 2001 " have been included in the prestigious “New Real Books” published in the United States by “Sher Music”.

Famous writer/journalist Nat Hentoff writes: “(Pieranunzi) is a luminously lyrical pianist, with a constant flow of ideas. He builds the kind of quality of designs that have a powerful inner logic. (...) Pieranunzi can swing " crisply and surely. But in those tempos he remains his lyrical self. His music sings.”

Ray Spencer of “Jazz Journal” has written that “Enrico Pieranunzi breathes new life into contemporary jazz”https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/enrico-pieranunzi

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi : piano; Bert Joris: trumpet; Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn: alto saxophone, flute; Katharina Brien: alto saxophone, clarinet; Denis Gabel: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Steffen Weber: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Reiner Heute: baritone saxophone; Frank Wellert: trumpet, flugelhorn; Thomas Vogel: trumpet, flugelhorn; Martin Auer: trumpet, flugelhorn; Axel Schlosser: trumpet, flugelhorn; Gunter Bollman: trombone; Felix Fromm: trombone; Christian Jaksjo: trombone, valve trombone; Robert Hedemann: bass trombone; Hans Glawischnig: bass; Jean Paul Hochstadter: drums.

Chet Remembered

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Pieranunzi Plays Previn

Styles: Piano Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 18:43
Size: 43,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:16) 1. Let's Go Home
(3:12) 2. Always Mademoiselle
(4:10) 3. Why Are We Afraid?
(3:04) 4. (You've Had A) Change of Heart
(2:58) 5. Coco

An acclaimed Italian jazz pianist, composer, and educator, Enrico Pieranunzi is known for his virtuosic, classical-influenced technique, nuanced sense of harmony, and elegantly restrained approach to modern post-bop jazz. Influenced heavily by Bill Evans, Pieranunzi emerged in the 1970s leading his own trio, and quickly established himself internationally as an in-demand sideman for such jazz giants as Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, and others. Along with performing, he is a dedicated teacher, having worked for many years as a full professor at the Conservatorio di Musica in Frosinone. Recognized as one of the foremost Italian jazz artists, he has garnered a handful of awards, including taking home the 1997 Django d'Or as Best European Jazz Musician and winning the 2014 German Echo Jazz Award as Best International Keyboard Artist. Pieranunzi remains a highly prolific artist, moving from trio albums like 2019's New Visions, to conceptual solo dates like 2020's Jackson Pollock-inspired Frame, to vibrant collaborations like 2021's After Glow with Bert Joris.

Born in Rome in 1949, Pieranunzi was introduced to classical music and jazz by his father, guitarist Alvaro Pieranunzi. (In addition, his brother is noted classical violinist Gabriele Pieranunzi.) Encouraged to study piano from a young age, he eventually graduated university with a music degree in 1973, and began working as a teacher. However, in 1975 he left his teaching position to focus on leading his jazz trio. He debuted that same year with the album Jazz a Confronto, and followed up with a handful of well-regarded efforts including 1976's New & Old Jazz Sounds with his father, 1976's The Day After the Silence, and 1978's A Long Way.

By the '80s, Pieranunzi had gained the attention of many touring American artists, including saxophonists Phil Woods and Lee Konitz, flügelhorn player Art Farmer, and bassist Charlie Haden. He also developed a close working relationship with trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker, a partnership that resulted in several superb albums, including 1980's Soft Journey and 1987's Silence, which also showcased Haden. In addition, the pianist released more of his own albums, including collaborations with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron such as 1984's New Lands. He went solo on 1985's What's What, and joined saxophonist Konitz on 1988's Solitudes. Pieranunzi capped the decade by appearing on Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to the acclaimed 1989 film Cinema Paradiso.

More work followed in the '90s, including dates with Baker, Haden, and Woods, as well as adventurous sessions with trumpeters Enrico Rava and Eric Vloeimans. As a leader, Pieranunzi recorded regularly for Enja, Timeless, and Soul Note, issuing such albums as 1995's Flux & Change, 1997's Seaward, and 1998's Ma l'Amore No. He also gained increasing praise for his work, including taking home the prestigious Django d'Or as the Best European Jazz Musician in 1997. Two years later, he paired with trumpeter Bert Joris for the quintet date Don't Forget the Poet. A duo session with pianist Bert van den Brink followed in 2000.

Pieranunzi furthered his own work over the next decade, releasing albums like 2001's Improvised Forms of Trio, 2002's Play Morricone, and 2003's Fellini Jazz. He also paired with acclaimed drummer Paul Motian for a handful of albums, including 2004's Doorways with saxophonist Chris Potter and 2005's Special Encounter with Haden. His ongoing association with bassist Johnson and drummer Baron produced a steady flow of studio and live sessions, including 2008's Yellow & Blue Suites and 2009's Dream Dance. There were also similar efforts with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez, such as 2013's Permutations and 2014's Stories.

In 2014, Pieranunzi took home Germany's Echo Jazz Award as Best International Keyboard Artist. He returned the following year alongside trumpeter Ralph Alessi, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and bassist Matt Penman for the forward-thinking quartet album Proximity. He then joined fellow pianist Bruno Canino for the 2016 duo session Americas, and followed in 2017 with another duo date, Duke's Dream with saxophonist Rosario Giuliani. The concert album Wine & Waltzes: Live at Bastianich Winery appeared in 2018. New Visions, a trio album with bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., arrived in 2019. The next year, Pieranunzi drew inspiration from the abstract paintings of Jackson Pollock for Frame. He also reunited with bassist Jasper Somsen and drummer Jorge Rossy in 2020 for their third trio session, Common View. In 2021, the pianist collaborated with trumpeter Bert Joris on After Glow and again paired with Fonnesbaeck for The Real You. By Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/enrico-pieranunzi-mn0000184086/biography

Pieranunzi Plays Previn

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Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonnesbaek - Blue Waltz

Styles: Piano Jazz, Post Bop 
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:58
Size: 155,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:40)  1. Everything I Love
(8:53)  2. Blue Waltz
(7:02)  3. Come Rose Dai Muri
(7:30)  4. Molto Ancora
(9:46)  5. All the Things You Are
(5:07)  6. First Impression Last
(6:06)  7. Miradas
(2:43)  8. Si Peu de Temps
(5:12)  9. Tales from the Unexpected
(4:55) 10. Wimp

During my childhood and teen age it was exactly the bass the “engine” that brought me to get deeper and deeper into the jazz language. So, shortly, I placed the bass in the top position of my personal list of favorite instruments. When in 2015 I met Thomas for the first time I had a further confirmation of all this. During the set we played in duo in fact his technique and musicality really impressed me and made me think that when somebody plays the bass the way he does it it’s difficult for me placing any other instrument in that top position. However, one year after our first meeting we performed in trio with the fine drummer Stefan Pasborg. Then, in 2017, we played an entire duo concert, whose results are now accessible to all the jazz listeners and fans. Well, I’d like to say here that Danmark seems really to be a very special and productive country for bass players. All of us in fact remember and regret the great NHOP, kind of pioneer and example for many generations of fantastic Danish bass players. Thomas, in my opinion, represents at it’s best the heritage coming from him and I’m proud to have shared with him the music recorded in this CD. Enjoy! https://www.enricopieranunzi.it/discografia/blue-waltz

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi piano; Thomas Fonnesbæk bass.

Blue Waltz

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Enrico Pieranunzi - New Visions

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:22
Size: 129,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:25) 1. Free Visions 1
(3:20) 2. Night Waltz
(6:46) 3. Anne Blomster Sang
(6:35) 4. You Know
(2:02) 5. Free Visions 2
(4:06) 6. Free Visions 3
(6:46) 7. Alt Kan Ske
(4:08) 8. Free Visions 4
(5:07) 9. Brown Fields
(4:12) 10. Dreams and the morning
(4:40) 11. One for Ulysses
(5:10) 12. Orphanes

The story behind this recording began in the summer of 2018 when Enrico Pieranunzi played with Ulysses Owens, Jr. For the first time: two awesome concerts during the Copenhagen Jazz Festival that cast a breathtaking spell over the audience. Enrico Pieranunzi was encouraged to study music from a young age. His father was a jazz guitarist. He studied classical music until 1973 when he became a Professor of Music, and maintained that post for two years.

In 1975 he left his teaching practice and played in trios and small ensembles. He has recorded over 60 albums. He has also been prolific as a session musician. Heralded as a "powerhouse of a showman" (Glide Magazine), a "legitimate jazz triple threat" (Critical Jazz) and a drummer who "take[s] a back seat to no one" (The New York Times), performer, producer and educator Ulysses Owens Jr. #goes the limit in the jazz world and beyond. The Trio is rounded out by bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek, who has performed with and recorded alongside some of the finest musicians in the industry.By Editorial Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/New-Visions-Enrico-Pieranunzi-Trio/dp/B07TPYXP9Z

Personnel: Piano – Enrico Pieranunzi; Bass – Thomas Fonnesbæk; Drums – Ulysses Owens Jr.

New Visions

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Blues & Bach: The Music of John Lewis

Styles: Piano Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:54
Size: 121,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:36) 1. Skating In Central Park
(6:03) 2. Spanish Steps
(4:59) 3. Vendome
(6:12) 4. Autumn In New York
(7:53) 5. Django
(7:30) 6. Concorde
(7:31) 7. Milano
(5:06) 8. Jasmine Tree

If the work of any jazz composer lends itself to elegant reframing, as opposed to crass sweetening, by a chamber orchestra, it is that of John Lewis, co-founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Lewis' ambition, most often metaphorically realised but sometimes literally so, was to achieve a synthesis of blues and Bach. His blends were mostly successful and only occasionally, in self-conscious forays into "third stream" music, did his innate vibrancy become subsumed in arid academia.

Lewis composed and recorded a large body of work under his own name and for other bandleaders, but for many people his apotheosis was with the MJQ. Pianist Enrico Pieranunzi and arranger Michele Corcella, here leading the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, appear to agree, for all but one of the pieces on the delightful Blues & Bach: The Music Of John Lewis were written by Lewis for the quartet. The exception, Vernon Duke's "Autumn In New York," was recorded by the MJQ for its debut album, Modern Jazz Quartet (Prestige, 1953). A more accurate, though clunky, subtitle for Blues & Bach would be The Music John Lewis Composed For The MJQ.

Anyway, along with Duke's evergreen, there are seven Lewis originals: "Skating In Central Park," "Spanish Steps," "Vendome," "Django," "Concorde," "Milano" and "Jasmine Tree." A mere seven tracks could not possibly include everyone's favourite Lewis/MJQ tunes, but there is a good chance that most of these titles would be on most people's shortlists. The least well known track is probably "Jasmine Tree," from Under The Jasmin Tree (Apple, 1968), a beauty that thoroughly deserves its inclusion.

As collaborators on this project, Pieranunzi and Corcella are well matched. Pieranunzi is as well versed in classical music as he is in jazz, while Corcella has orchestrated for other A-list jazz musicians including Dave Liebman, Steve Swallow, John Taylor and Norma Winstone. Pieranunzi leads his regular trio with bassist Luca Bulgarelli and drummer Mauro Beggio. Corcella conducts ten players, comprising five strings, four woodwinds and one brass. He is also credited as arranger, but whether this is of the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, or the orchestra plus Pieranunzi's trio, is not clear. It is inconceivable, however, that Pieraunzi was a passive spectator of the process, even if Corcella wrote the first drafts.

The project was several years in progress, as indicated by the YouTube clip below of a 2018 concert performance with a considerably larger orchestra. The album itself was not recorded until late 2021, and plenty of honing, tweaking and fine focussing happened between times.

It is foolish and presumptuous to attribute opinions to people who are no longer with us. But it is probably safe to say that the odds are that Lewis would enjoy Blues & Bach. The orchestrations bring new facets to the familiar compositions and are as light on their feet as the source material, while Pieranunzi's trio, collectively and as soloists, keeps the music foursquare in the realm of creative jazz.

Footnote: It would be fascinating to hear how Bach would have worked with the blues. The closest we are likely to get is with the MJQ's Blues On Bach (Atlantic, 1974), a concept album built around blues written by Lewis based on various Bach chorales and fugues.By Chris May https://www.allaboutjazz.com/blues-and-bach-the-music-of-john-lewis-enrico-pieranunzi-trio-and-orchestra-challenge-records

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi: piano; Luca Bulgarelli: bass; Mauro Beggio: drums
.
Additional Instrumentation: Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana: Cesare Carretta: first violin; Silvia Maffeis: second violin; Erica Mason: viola; Nicolo Nigrelli: cello; Andrea Sala: double bass; Serena Bonazzi: flute; Carlo Ambrosoli: oboe; Damiano Bertasa: clarinet; Luca Reverberi: bassoon; Angelo Borroni: French horn; Michele Corcella: arranger, conductor.

Blues & Bach: The Music Of John Lewis

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Enrico Pieranunzi, Valentina Ranalli - Cantare Pieranunzi

Styles: Piano And Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:54
Size: 119,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:38) 1. When I Think of You
(4:11) 2. You Know
(5:23) 3. Dreams and the Morning
(4:28) 4. Blue Waltz
(3:37) 5. Afterglow
(4:54) 6. Suspension Points
(4:41) 7. Persona
(4:32) 8. The Real You
(5:30) 9. Winter Moon
(4:06) 10. As Never Before
(3:51) 11. Horizontes Finales

Enrico Pieranunzi was born in Rome in 1949 and has for many years been among the most significant and well-known protagonists of the international jazz scene. A pianist, composer, and arranger, he has recorded more than 70 albums under his own name, ranging from piano solo to trio, from duo to quintet. He has collaborated, either live or in the studio, with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Paul Motian, Charlie Haden, Chris Potter, Marc Johnson, and Joey Baron. Pieranunzi has been named Artist of the Year three times by the Musica Jazz magazine critics’ poll (in 1989, 2003, 2008). He also won the French Django d’Or prize as “Best European Musician” in 1997 and the German Echo Jazz Award in 2014 as “Best International Keyboard Artist”.
Pieranunzi has performed his music all over the world in the most prestigious international festivals, from Montréal to Copenhagen and Buenos Aires, from Berlin and Madrid to Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Beijing.https://www.enricopieranunzi.it/biography

Personnel: Bass – Giuseppe Romagnoli; Drums – Cesare Mangiocavallo; Piano, Keyboards, Composed By, Liner Notes – Enrico Pieranunzi; Trumpet – Giacomo Serino; Voice, Lyrics By – Valentina Ranalli

Cantare Pieranunzi

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Enrico Pieranunzi, Rosario Giuliani - Duke's Dream

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:17
Size: 118,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:33) 1. Isfahan
(4:39) 2. Satin Doll
(4:16) 3. Take the Coltrane
(7:20) 4. I Got It Bad
(9:43) 5. Duke's Dream
(4:56) 6. Reflections in D
(4:19) 7. Sonnet for Caesar
(3:44) 8. Duke's Atmosphere
(2:39) 9. Trains
(5:03) 10. Come Sunday

After two decades of wonderful collaboration in different contexts Enrico Pieranunzi and Rosario Giuliani finally entered a recording studio for a project of their own. Published by the prestigious German label Intuition, Duke's dream pays tribute to Duke Ellington, true giant of twentieth century music whose brilliant compositions among them the very well known Satin Doll, Come Sunday, I Got it bad are presented here in a very refined, original way.In Duke's dream you find Pieranunzi and Giuliani at their best. They express here their common vision of music, which has long made them two stars of the international jazz scene. https://www.enricopieranunzi.it/discografia/2017/1/22/dukes-dream

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi piano, electric piano; Rosario Giuliani alto sax, soprano sax

Duke's Dream

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Enrico Pieranunzi, Marc Johnson, Paul Motian - The Copenhagen Concert

Styles: Piano Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:18
Size: 141,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:06) 1. Abacus
( 7:02) 2. The Night Gone By
( 8:53) 3. Invitation
(16:18) 4. Medley: Body & Soul / If I Should Lose you
(12:19) 5. Everything I Love
( 6:37) 6. Pannonica

Enrico Pieranunzi has been a popular guest in Copenhagen for over 30 years, where he has played with elite Danish musicians like Mads Vinding, Alex Riel and Jesper Lundgaard. In recent years he has collaborated closely in a duo context with the phenomenal bassist Thomas Fonnesbæk and the two, together, were soon able to achieve new heights of creativity. Pieranunzi is an exceptional pianist, whether he’s playing solo, duo or trio. Melodically, harmonically, and not least of all rhythmically, he is “out of this world”. He has something you simply don’t hear with other musicians. Part of the explanation is likely due to a unique combination of influences, from his deep roots in classical and Italian music to his collaboration with iconic film composer Ennio Morricone and jazz giants like Chet Baker and Art Farmer. The rest and most importantly is due to Enrico himself.

On this recording, from December 1996 at the legendary and now closed Copenhagen Jazzhouse, he is joined by two masters in their own right; Marc Johnson on bass and Paul Motian on drums. This trio plays with virtuosity and force that shines through on every note and beat.

The album opens with the tempo filled track Abacus, written by Motian. A track that has a playfulness and displays the three musicians’ genuine interaction and functions as a conversation between the piano and bass. Both the technique as well as feel is top-level as the musical resources are in free flow. The Night Gone By, written by Pieranunzie, starts with more of a ballad feel before a bass solo transcends the track into a higher tempo midway lead by the piano, before coming back to its initial softer feel at the end.

Album closer Pannonica, a Thelonius Monk penned classic, has more of a swing feel to it, has more of a swing feel to it and closes the album in style. Pieranunzi, the Italian piano master, is recognized as one of the best European jazz pianists and as a pianist, composer and arranger he has recorded more than 70 albums.https://storyvillerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-copenhagen-concert

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano; Marc Johnson - Bass; Paul Motian - Drums

The Copenhagen Concert

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Jazz Roads

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:39
Size: 101,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Entropy
(1:28)  2. Monologue 1 - Country Sketch
(5:03)  3. New Lands
(2:02)  4. Monologue 2 - Introspection
(1:48)  5. One For Oscar
(3:15)  6. The Seagull
(7:07)  7. From E. To C.
(1:34)  8. Monologue 3 - Answers
(2:22)  9. Blues For B.
(0:44) 10. Monologue 4 - Tout Court
(6:22) 11. The Dawn
(7:16) 12. From E. To C.

An acclaimed Italian jazz pianist, composer, and educator, Enrico Pieranunzi is known for his virtuosic, classical-influenced technique, nuanced sense of harmony, and elegantly restrained approach to modern post-bop jazz. Influenced heavily by Bill Evans, Pieranunzi emerged in the 1970s leading his own trio, and quickly established himself internationally as an in-demand sideman for such jazz giants as Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, and others. Along with performing, he is a dedicated teacher, having worked for many years as a full professor at the Conservatorio di Musica in Frosinone. Recognized as one of the foremost Italian jazz artists, he has garnered a handful of awards, including taking home the 1997 Django d'Or as Best European Jazz Musician and winning the 2014 German Echo Jazz Award as Best International Keyboard Artist. Born in Rome in 1949, Pieranunzi was introduced to classical music and jazz by his father, guitarist Alvaro Pieranunzi. (In addition, his brother is noted classical violinist Gabriele Pieranunzi.) Encouraged to study piano from a young age, he eventually graduated university with a music degree in 1973, and began working as a teacher. However, in 1975 he left his teaching position to focus on leading his jazz trio. He debuted that same year with the album Jazz a Confronto, and followed up with a handful of well-regarded efforts including 1976's New & Old Jazz Sounds with his father, 1976's The Day After the Silence, and 1978's A Long Way. By the '80s, Pieranunzi had gained the attention of many touring American artists, including saxophonists Phil Woods and Lee Konitz, flügelhorn player Art Farmer, and bassist Charlie Haden. He also developed a close working relationship with trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker, a partnership that resulted in several superb albums, including 1980's Soft Journey and 1987's Silence, which also showcased Haden. The pianist also released more of his own albums, including pairing with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron for several efforts such as 1984's New Lands. He went solo on 1985's What's What, and joined saxophonist Konitz on 1988's Solitudes. Pieranunzi capped the decade by appearing on Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to the acclaimed 1989 film Cinema Paradiso. More work followed in the '90s, including dates with Baker, Haden, and Woods, as well as adventurous sessions with trumpeters Enrico Rava and Eric Vloeimans. As a leader, he recorded regularly for Enja, Timeless, and Soul Note, issuing such albums as 1995's Flux & Change, 1997's Seaward, and 1998's Ma l'Amore No. He also gained increasing praise for his work, including taking home the prestigious Django d'Or as the Best European Jazz Musician in 1997. Two years later, he paired with trumpeter Bert Joris for the quintet date Don't Forget the Poet. 

A duo session with pianist Bert van den Brink followed in 2000. He furthered his own work over the next decade, releasing albums like 2001's Improvised Forms of Trio, 2002's Play Morricone, and 2003's Fellini Jazz. He also paired with acclaimed drummer Paul Motian for a handful of albums, including 2004's Doorways with saxophonist Chris Potter and 2005's Special Encounter with Haden. Pieranunzi also continued his ongoing association with bassist Johnson and drummer Baron, releasing a steady flow of studio and live sessions, including 2008's Yellow & Blue Suites and 2009's Dream Dance. There were also similar efforts with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez, such as 2013's Permutations and 2014's Stories. In 2014, he took home Germany's Echo Jazz Award as Best International Keyboard Artist. He returned the following year alongside trumpeter Ralph Alessi, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and bassist Matt Penman for the forward-thinking quartet album Proximity. He then joined fellow pianist Bruno Canino for the 2016 duo session Americas, and followed in 2017 with another duo date, Duke's Dream with saxophonist Rosario Giuliani. The concert album Wine & Waltzes: Live at Bastianich Winery appeared in 2018. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/enrico-pieranunzi-mn0000184086/biography

Personnel:   Enrico Pieranunzi - piano;  Birch Johnson - trombone; Riccardo Del Fra - double bass; Roberto Gatto - drums; Giampaolo Ascolese - battery

Jazz Roads

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Monsieur Claude A Travel with Claude Debussy

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:15
Size: 141,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:32)  1. Bluemantique
(4:52)  2. Passepied nouveau
(5:38)  3. L'autre ballade
(5:04)  4. Romance
(7:47)  5. Rêverie
(5:13)  6. Cheveux
(4:30)  7. Blues for Claude
(8:13)  8. Nuit d'étoiles
(5:37)  9. Mr. Golliwogg
(2:06) 10. My Travel with Claude
(6:38) 11. L'adieu

An acclaimed Italian jazz pianist, composer, and educator, Enrico Pieranunzi is known for his virtuosic, classical-influenced technique, nuanced sense of harmony, and elegantly restrained approach to modern post-bop jazz. Influenced heavily by Bill Evans, Pieranunzi emerged in the 1970s leading his own trio, and quickly established himself internationally as an in-demand sideman for such jazz giants as Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, and others. Along with performing, he is a dedicated teacher, having worked for many years as a full professor at the Conservatorio di Musica in Frosinone. Recognized as one of the foremost Italian jazz artists, he has garnered a handful of awards, including taking home the 1997 Django d'Or as Best European Jazz Musician and winning the 2014 German Echo Jazz Award as Best International Keyboard Artist. Born in Rome in 1949, Pieranunzi was introduced to classical music and jazz by his father, guitarist Alvaro Pieranunzi. (In addition, his brother is noted classical violinist Gabriele Pieranunzi.) Encouraged to study piano from a young age, he eventually graduated university with a music degree in 1973, and began working as a teacher. However, in 1975 he left his teaching position to focus on leading his jazz trio. He debuted that same year with the album Jazz a Confronto, and followed up with a handful of well-regarded efforts including 1976's New & Old Jazz Sounds with his father, 1976's The Day After the Silence, and 1978's A Long Way. By the '80s, Pieranunzi had gained the attention of many touring American artists, including saxophonists Phil Woods and Lee Konitz, flügelhorn player Art Farmer, and bassist Charlie Haden. 

He also developed a close working relationship with trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker, a partnership that resulted in several superb albums, including 1980's Soft Journey and 1987's Silence, which also showcased Haden. The pianist also released more of his own albums, including pairing with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron for several efforts such as 1984's New Lands. He went solo on 1985's What's What, and joined saxophonist Konitz on 1988's Solitudes. Pieranunzi capped the decade by appearing on Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to the acclaimed 1989 film Cinema Paradiso. More work followed in the '90s, including dates with Baker, Haden, and Woods, as well as adventurous sessions with trumpeters Enrico Rava and Eric Vloeimans. As a leader, he recorded regularly for Enja, Timeless, and Soul Note, issuing such albums as 1995's Flux & Change, 1997's Seaward, and 1998's Ma l'Amore No. He also gained increasing praise for his work, including taking home the prestigious Django d'Or as the Best European Jazz Musician in 1997. Two years later, he paired with trumpeter Bert Joris for the quintet date Don't Forget the Poet. A duo session with pianist Bert van den Brink followed in 2000. He furthered his own work over the next decade, releasing albums like 2001's Improvised Forms of Trio, 2002's Play Morricone, and 2003's Fellini Jazz. He also paired with acclaimed drummer Paul Motian for a handful of albums, including 2004's Doorways with saxophonist Chris Potter and 2005's Special Encounter with Haden. Pieranunzi also continued his ongoing association with bassist Johnson and drummer Baron, releasing a steady flow of studio and live sessions, including 2008's Yellow & Blue Suites and 2009's Dream Dance. There were also similar efforts with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez, such as 2013's Permutations and 2014's Stories. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/monsieur-claude-a-travel-with-claude-debussy/1348298958

Monsieur Claude A Travel with Claude Debussy

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Ada Montellanico & Enrico Pieranunzi - Danza Di Una Ninfa

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:41
Size: 130,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:23)  1. Mi sono innamorato di te
(5:29)  2. Da quando
(6:13)  3. Mia cara amica
(4:51)  4. Quasi sera
(6:24)  5. Danza di una ninfa sotto la luna
(4:12)  6. Che cos'è
(5:39)  7. Ho capito che ti amo
(5:39)  8. Il tempo passò
(5:49)  9. In qualche parte del mondo
(4:59) 10. O me

E ra night of a cold winter, that of 27 January 1967 . A gunshot breaks the silence and the room 219 of the annex Savoy is filled with death: Luigi Tenco , misunderstood genius, commits suicide. Truncate his brief but intense life, not before he left a message of protest: " I love him very much to the Italian public - wrote the son of a farmer - and I have dedicated, unnecessarily, five years of my life. I do this , not because he was tired of life (anything), but as an act of protest against an audience that sends 'Me you and roses' in the final and a committee that selects 'the' revolution. I hope it will help clarify things to someone. Hello. Louis . " That his gesture has clarified the ideas to those who are in the "control room" at the Sanremo Festival, it is not established. But one thing is certain, and Dance of a nymph or confirms, Luigi Tenco he left a message of strong self. Indelible!

L 'album, which also play Paul McCandless (sax, oboe, horn, clarinet and flute), Bebo Ferra (guitar), Luca Bulgarelli (double bass), Michael Anger (drums), Piero Salvatori (cello) and " Arke String Quartet ", opens with" I love you "on introduction of soprano sax dense lyrical and instrumental significance. A mixture, successful, contemporary and harmonies - never banal sounds - that support the voice of Ada Montellanico . Voice and piano, as in the best traditions of jazz, with some assistance from the soprano McCandless . The arrangement is refined, without stylistic exaggerations. Even just Pieranunzi is "leaning" elegantly on harmonic solutions that support the phrasing of sax that follows. Ever since , it becomes bolder from a musical standpoint. But it's "philological" very consistent with the work of Tenco. It 'the first of the four tracks, never engraved by the great songwriter and to whose "musicazione" helped Ada Montellanico . The others are: Dance of a nymph under the moon , O Me and My dear friend . And this is the third track on the album, which lends itself very well to a very jazzy arrangement and if we want, even a little 'unconventional, but only in that regains a more traditional visibility and maybe even more tonal. Improvisations, including that of Enrico Pieranunzi , are particularly rhythmic. Nearly evening respects the "melancholy" of Luigi Tenco, respects their musical poetry and arrangements are subject to the imperative, supreme, to draw in the imagination of the listener shadows and uncertain shapes, flowing before his eyes at nightfall, on a beach, along the sea. The piano is chained to the voice of Montellanico : holding hands, Ada and Henry! Dance of a nymph under the moon is really ethereal! A composition that lies on the equally lyrical Tenco ethereal to get a fine result, cultured. The oboe gives the song a rarefied atmosphere, almost impalpable, on which shows a little 'guitar, returning to the track in soft Mediterranean sounds. 

Certainly the most beautiful song of the album. What is it? has a decidedly jazz dimension, it is a medium where the rhythm section, at least as long as you support the voice, is "two", then running at a "four", only for the Pieranunzi and McCandless . The work produced for the label Egea is a real journey into the poetic and musical world of Luigi Tenco. Also I realized that I love you is not so different. Very "open" as a rhythmic dimension  as if to comply with a stylistic exercise where the singer was a master: take up the guitar and "tell" his poem with the rhythmic freedom of movement is argued on a very studied and refined harmonic frame. The time passed has a nonsochè of classical, is a song timeless, timing. Tenco wrote it with Reverberi telling of a life that seems to have its greatest musical expression in the deep just Pieranunzi . Somewhere in the world just the style signature brings the sixties and only slightly different - even in the harmonic structure developed by Pieranunzi expressive model of Luigi Tenco. 

O continually the scaffolding of ' Arke String Quartet in Somewhere in the world , which goes to support the song, of course, more elaborate and ambitious cd. Or I did swing expressions in the rhythm section that incardinano in the plan, sometimes a bit 'Latin, of Enrico Pieranunzi . The song is an elegant succession of poetry and music: excellent phrases in unison. Translate by google http://www.jazzitalia.net/recensioni/danzadiunaninfa.asp#.WJI801MrKUl

Personnel:  Voice – Ada Montellanico;  Cello – Piero Salvatori;  Double Bass – Luca Bulgarelli;  Drums, Percussion – Michele Rabbia;  Guitar – Bebo Ferra;  Piano, Arranged By – Enrico Pieranunzi;  Soprano Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet, Flute – Paul McCandless

Danza di una ninfa

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Enrico Pieranunzi, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron - As Never Before

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:33
Size: 135,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:52)  1. Soundings
(3:16)  2. Improheart
(6:45)  3. A Nameless Gate
(7:50)  4. As Never Before
(9:12)  5. Many Moons Ago
(3:18)  6. Impromind
(6:52)  7. Song For Kenny
(7:03)  8. Time's Passage
(7:20)  9. Winter Moon

Pianist Enrico Pieranunzi isn't the only artist influenced by Kenny Wheeler's classic Gnu High. It's a safe bet that the trumpeter's 1976 debut as a leader for ECM, featuring the perfect line-up of pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette, has been one of small group jazz's most influential albums of the past thirty years; as remarkable for Wheeler's inimitable writing as its unparalleled performances. Few, however, get the opportunity to recruit Wheeler in the same quartet context for an album perhaps lacking the "classic" stamp of Gnu High, but coming darn close. With seven Pieranunzi compositions and two group improvisations of complete spontaneity but equally immediate compositional focus, the pianist augments his existing trio of bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron with Wheeler, making As Never Before an appropriately titled disc that actually manages to surpass Pieranunzi's career-defining Live in Japan (Cam Jazz, 2007).  Pieranunzi, Johnson and Baron may not have the cachet of Jarrett, Holland and DeJohnette. Still, over the past quarter century they've established themselves individually as comfortable in a variety of environments and, now early into its third decade, a trio capable of musical empathy akin to that Johnson experienced with his first major employer, the late legend Bill Evans. Pieranunzi, like most modern pianists, owes much to Evans, but he's long since transcended Evans as an overt reference point. If there's any pianist with whom he shares much these days it's John Taylor, who has worked regularly with Wheeler for five decades, making the Pieranunzi/Wheeler pairing an equally winning combination. Nor is this Pieranunzi's first recorded encounter with Wheeler. FelliniJazz (Cam Jazz, 2004) also brought the two together, but on a set of music culled largely from soundtracks to films of the great Frederico Fellini, and with a line-up possessing its own strength but lacking the simpatico inherent in a group that's worked together for twenty-five years. 

FelliniJazz's strength was in how its players found common ground to interpret non-original music with their own voices; written with this line-up in mind, As Never Before even more successfully speaks to the players' individual strengths. And what strengths. Baron, beginning as a vivacious and raucous player on the downtown New York scene, has evolved into a drummer of great nuance, swinging lightly alongside Johnson on "Time's Passage" while energetically punctuating without losing sight of the song's evocative resonance. Johnson, a most elegant and lyrical bassist, is the litmus test for perfection in instantaneous choice, balancing rhythm section responsibilities with a conversational approach that feeds Pieranunzi's own thematic disposition to solo building. And what of Wheeler? Approaching eighty, his peerless technique shows no signs of weakening, with every solo combining his unmistakable melancholy melodism with a nearly unequaled ability to deliver perfection, take after take. Quintessential modern mainstream jazz, As Never Before blends traditional elements with European classicism and, like its players, is as unassuming as it is stellar; as honest, committed and selfless as intimate, small group jazz gets. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/as-never-before-enrico-pieranunzi-cam-jazz-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi: piano; Marc Johnson: bass: Joey Baron: drums; Kenny Wheeler: trumpet, flugelhorn.

As Never Before

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Proximity

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:16
Size: 106,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:33)  1. Incanto
(5:41)  2. Line for Lee
(7:03)  3. Sundays
(4:23)  4. Simul
(7:41)  5. No-Nonsense
(6:01)  6. Proximity
(5:34)  7. Within The House Of Night
(4:16)  8. Five Plus Five

A superior post-bop pianist influenced by Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner but long possessing his own sound, Enrico Pieranunzi is one of the top jazz pianists living in Italy. He began studying piano when he was five, partly from his father, who was a jazz-loving guitarist. Pieranunzi became a professional when he was 19, playing with trombonist Marcello Rosa's quartet. Since then, in addition to leading his own groups, Pieranunzi has worked with many top players (both Europeans and Americans) including Franco Ambrosetti, Chet Baker, Benny Bailey, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Haden, Jim Hall, Lee Konitz, Sal Nistico, Enrico Rava, Tony Scott, Kai Winding, and Phil Woods.

Pieranunzi, who also teaches at a conservatory, has done studio work and sometimes works as a chamber music soloist. Up through the 1990s he recorded a number of impressive jazz sets as a leader for Enja, Timeless, and especially Soul Note. After the turn of the millennium his CDs have often appeared on the CamJazz label, including recordings Play Morricone (2002), Current Conditions and Play Morricone, Vol. 2 (both 2003), Ballads (2006), Live in Japan (2007), and Dream Dance (2009) with a trio featuring drummer Joey Baron and bassist Marc Johnson. ~ Scott Yanow  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/enrico-pieranunzi/id5682751#fullText

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi (piano); Donny McCaslin (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Ralph Alessi (trumpet, flugelhorn).

Proximity

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Tina May & Enrico Pieranunzi - Home Is Where The Heart Is

Size: 104,6 MB
Time: 40:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Took Your Hand In Mine (Fellini's Waltz) (4:05)
02. Don't Forget The Poet, Please (4:19)
03. A Nameless Gate (4:57)
04. The Night Bird (5:02)
05. With Every Smile Of Yours (O! Le Feu Dans Les Yeux) (2:43)
06. Within The Hush Of Night (Within The House Of Night) (4:42)
07. Day Dream (7:05)
08. Home Is Where The Heart Is (Distance From Departure) (5:29)

Personnel:
Tina May - Vocals
Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano
Tony Coe - Saxophone

Tina's long association with '33' continues with this long awaited collaboration between Tina and one of Europe's greatest pianists, the incomparable Enrico Pieranunzi.
The album features several well-known Pieranunzi compositions that are given lyrics by Tina – including to Chet Baker's original solo on Pieranunzi's 'Night Bird', that the pianist recorded with Baker in the 1970's.
On two numbers, 'Night Bird' and Ellington's 'Day Dream', the Duo are joined by the wonderful Tony Coe on soprano saxophone.
"'Home Is Where The Heart Is' plays with the concept of mother tongue…..it ventures out into new territory and experience. So precise is the writing and so intuitive the performance that every song finds its way home, in the deepest way." Brian Morton

Home Is Where The Heart Is

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Trasnoche / Wandering

Album: Trasnoche
Size: 105,0 MB
Time: 45:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz, Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. Trasnoche (5:20)
02. I Sospiri E Le Lacrime E 'l Desìo (5:16)
03. Islas (6:47)
04. A Second Thought (7:06)
05. Thiaki (5:07)
06. The Way Of Memories (3:29)
07. The Chant Of Time (5:21)
08. Narrations Du Large (4:24)
09. Clouds (2:28)

Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi and American acoustic bassist Marc Johnson continue their generally fruitful musical relationship on this quaintly fabricated dual outing. Johnson once again demonstrates his nearly flawless execution and silky-smooth intonations throughout this affable effort. The resonant sonic characteristics serve as an enhancer to the duo's brittle passages and softly rendered balladry, with the primary focus on the musicians' continuous flow of ideas. When viewed as a whole, Pieranunzi's compositions are perhaps a tad less memorable than what he has delivered on previous efforts, regardless of the size of his ensemble. But an air of romance still prevails here, as the musicians' emotive choruses and intertwining mosaics of sound provide the winning touch. These works shine forth as lucidly enacted mini-vignettes that go straight to the heart, mainly due to the performers' strong exchanges and noticeable camaraderie. ~Review by Glenn Astarita

Trasnoche

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Album: Wandering
Size: 105,7 MB
Time: 42:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz, Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. Teensblues (3:20)
02. Wandering 1 (3:43)
03. Fermati A Guardare Il Giorno (4:48)
04. Improstinato 1 (1:22)
05. Wandering 2 (3:09)
06. Foor-Fee (3:09)
07. Improvisions 1 (2:40)
08. Rosa Del Mare (5:11)
09. Dark (1:48)
10. Wandering 3 (1:31)
11. Improvisions 2 (1:28)
12. Wandering 4 (1:51)
13. Improstinato 2 (2:40)
14. For My True Love (5:43)

Not only is Enrico Pieranunzi considered the best jazz composer and pianist in Europe, he is also regarded as an amazingly prolific artist. The ideas and the music never stop. Perhaps that creative restlessness is why he named his third release of 2009, Wandering. The recording is his 14th for the acclaimed Italian jazz label, CAM Jazz, which will release the new music in the United States on October 13, 2009 in digital form only.
Pieranunzi’s release of three recordings this year presents a unique opportunity to understand his diverse influences and distinctive voice in light of these very different discs. With Enrico Pieranunzi Plays Domenico Scarlatti , the fearless Roman took on an unprecedented challenge: improvising on the sonatas of the famous classical composer Domenico Scarlatti. He followed that with the ephemeral Dream Dance, the seventh album he’s recorded with his long-time American partners, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron.
Now with Wandering, he returns to solo form such as on Scarlatti, but returns to his own evocative compositions and mastery of his own personal process. As always, Pieranunzi plays elegantly and with such astute technical ability that it heightens the tension for the listener. He also captures the emotional undercurrents of the music expertly, stoking our imaginations.

Wandering

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Enrico Pieranunzi - Stories

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:55
Size: 115,1 MB
Scans:

(4:10)  1. No Improper Use
(8:06)  2. Detrás Más Allá
(7:33)  3. Blue Waltz
(5:16)  4. The Slow Gene
(3:55)  5. Which Way Is Up
(8:11)  6. Where Stories Are
(7:24)  7. Flowering Stones
(5:16)  8. The Real You

Pianist Enrico Pieranunzi enlists the help of critically acclaimed bassist Scott Colley and all star drummer Antonio Sanchez to push the improvisational boundaries of both classical and Latin music. Anything new here? The format has found some limited success with larger ensembles. When one thinks of trios there may be only a half dozen truly great recordings that transcend genre and push the limits of improvisational music to new heights, Stories is one such release. While Colley and Sanchez are widely known within the North American audience, the Italian Enrico Pieranunzi would seem to have emerged from the harmonic shadows. Recordings such as this rarely make that successful transition to small ensemble performance yet there is a indescribable spirit that permeates the very essence of this recording. The melodic genesis of this release runs from the exquisite and dialed down "Slow Gene" from Scott Colley to the whirling dervish of harmonic fury with "Which Way Is Up" from Pieranunzi. The Latin pinache of Sanchez is strong with the end result as improvisational conversations from a true collective of artists and not a pianist and two afterthoughts.  A stealth release that could easily slip under your radar. One of the finer piano trios of 2014.  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2014/07/enrico-pieranunzi-stories-cam-2014.html

Stories

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Enrico Pieranunzi - FelliniJazz

Styles:  Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:44
Size: 146,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. I Vitelloni
(5:44)  2. Il Bidone
(5:32)  3. Il Bidone
(5:10)  4. la Citta Delle Donne
(6:46)  5. Amarcord
(7:07)  6. Cabiria's Dream
(6:04)  7. La Dolce Vita
(6:47)  8. La Dolce Vita
(5:47)  9. La Strada
(6:38) 10. Le Notti Di Cabiria
(3:24) 11. Fellini's Waltz

The elegance that is Fellini Jazz serves as a tribute to both the great director and this assembly of musicians. Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi continues to make make dream recordings that are so much more than all-star get togethers. This release follows two stellar sessions, Plays Morricone and Current Conditions (both on CAM Jazz), with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron. Think of Fellini and the name that follows is Nino Rota, who composed music for the director’s films and also Coppola’s Godfather series. Rota draws inspiration from all music to form his unique brand of folk music. This band measures out the composer's vision in satisfying portions. Besides the pianist, the attention-grabbing performances come from trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and saxophonist Chris Potter. Potter a mainstay in Dave Holland’s band, has full command of his horn at the tender age of 31. He tends toward a gentle but large voice, for example covering the ballad “Il Bidone” like fresh syrup over warm pancakes. The two versions of that particular track are done in the form of a ballad and a post-bop workout. Wheeler’s flugelhorn complements Potter with remarkable telepathy. His muted trumpet fills the tango of “La Città Delle Donne” as well as the railroad-patterned version of “La Dolce Vita.” 

Pieranunzi finds it almost second nature to be partnered with drummer Paul Motian and bassist Charlie Haden. Motian, who played with Bill Evans, keeps that open, loose rhythm swirling behind Pieranunzi’s Evans-like clean vision. Haden and the pianist close the record with a sentimental duo of a Pieranunzi bitter/sweet original that could be the end piece to a "love found/love lost" movie. The band keeps the music in the forefront here. They play the circus theme version of “La Dolce Vita” with a straight-face, Pieranunzi ringing in the track by comping around Potter’s soprano flight. The favorite always is the composition “Amarcord.” Played as a blues, it reveals Fellini’s bittersweet cinematic themes. This is a sensational recording, worthy of its subject matter and its superb cast.

~ Mark Corroto  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12908#.UrbDi-Jc9sg

Personnel: Kenny Wheeler - Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Chris Potter, Charlie - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone; Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano; Haden - Bass; Paul Motian - Drums.

FelliniJazz

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