Paolo Fresu, Furio Di Castri, John Taylor - Contos [Tales] (1993)

The Italian label EGEA began its journey when Paolo Fresu and Furio di Castri felt the need to leave the tried and tested formula of the duo to welcome other musicians. The ‘Open Trio’ (which also gives its name to a composition by Paolo Fresu) became an open structure capable of hosting percussionists, drummers, pianists and multimedia artists. The meeting with the English pianist John Taylor documents a happy moment of the twenty-year collaboration between Fresu and Di Castri and a prelude to the subsequent formation of the PAF Trio together with pianist and accordionist Antonello Salis. The nine songs, largely the result of Taylor's lyric pen, interact with the compositions of Fresu and Di Castri and are also the result of a successful Italian tour. The CD is recorded live in the Teatro di Città di Castello and is part of the project to enhance the historical theaters that Egea has been pursuing for some time. ~ paolofresu.it.

EGEA Records, SCA 039, 1993
Recorded in 1993 At Teatro Comunale Di Città di Castello, Italy 

Musicians:
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet
John Taylor - Piano
Furio Di Castri - Double Bass 

Tracks:
1. Sueños [Dreams] {Furio Di Castri} (7:18)
2. Evan Song {John Taylor} (5:13)
3. Walkabout {Paolo Fresu} (5:57)
4. Satie {Paolo Fresu} (9:27)
5. Evening Song {Furio Di Castri} (5:24)
6. Ninna Nanna Per Vale {Paolo Fresu} (4:22)
7. Blue Glass {John Taylor} (5:51)
8. Lovely Ballad {Paolo Fresu} (5:14)
9. Mandarin {Furio Di Castri} (3:45) 

Total Time: 52:27

Paolo Fresu's beautiful trumpet tone comparable to Miles and Chet Baker is quite unsurpassed within today’s jazz world. Equally on this date, John Taylor conveys a hauntingly bittersweet feeling to his playing, differing to his usual cold image, which fades away into beautiful solos of a greater fieriness. In addition, bassist Furio Di Castri, a long-term counterpart of Paolo Fresu, seamlessly binds the musicians together. All players contribute a number of compositions to the mix enhancing a diverse flavour to the listener’s experience. Overall, this album is a good example of the superior jazz released on the Italian Egea label, enjoy!