Gianni Basso Quartet - Gianni Basso In Bari - You're My Everything (2003)

In Italy, the tenor saxophonist Gianni Basso has a similar status to the trumpeter Dusko Goykovich here; they are also comparable because both have repeatedly worked with the same classics of American jazz. It is thanks to the tireless enthusiasm of the producer York von Prittwitz that the original voices of Italian mainstream jazz can also be heard here. In Bari he recorded the current Basso quartet and captured a great moment. In his warm-sounding, completely naturally swinging playing, Gianni Basso combines the elegance of a Stan Getz with the committed lyricism of a Ben Webster. The program of originals and standards is precisely tailored to this musical ideal, and his accompanists could not be better chosen. Guido Di Leone's guitar combines the single-line sophistication of a Jim Hall with a slightly metallic attack that has not been heard since Tiny Grimes. Bassist Giuseppe Bassi plays wonderfully rooted, similar to a Pierre Michelot four-to-the-bar, and is a virtuoso but never intrusive soloist; and Salvatore Tranchini's drumming - especially the brushwork - gives this springy beat a light-footed grace - che allegria! [what joy!] Modern mainstream can be so convincing, so heartfelt and touching when the great originals cultivate it. ~ Thomas Fitterling, www.rondomagazin.de. [Translated from German] 

YVP Music, YVP3107, 2003
Recorded 9th April, 2002 at Studio Sorriso, Bari, Italy 

Musicians:
Gianni Basso - Tenor Saxophone
Guido Di Leone - Guitar
Giuseppe Bassi - Double Bass
Salvatore Tranchini - Drums

Tracks:
01. You're My Everything {Harry Warren, Mort Dixon} (4:03)
02. My Old Friend {Gianni Basso} (6:47)
03. It's You Or No One {Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne} (5:20)
04. Blues For Pietro {Gianni Basso} (4:21)
05. Minton's Mood {Guido Di Leone} (5:15)
06. Thinking Of You {Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar} (6:22)
07. Somebody Loves Me {George Gershwin} (6:10)
08. My Foolish Heart {Victor Young} (8:21)
09. Mister G.B. {Gianni Basso} (3:56)
10. Marizio "Nunez" Caldura {Guido Di Leone} (5:17)
11. Swinging Blues {Gianni Basso} (5:56) 

Total Time: 61:53 

Credits:
Producer - Gianni Basso, Guido Di Leone, Giuseppe Bassi
Executive Producer, Liner Notes - York von Prittwitz
Sound Engineer - Tommy Cavalieri
Graphic Design - Tonio Del Vecchio 

Guido Di Leone Trio with Ottonando Brass Ensemble - Isole (2004)

A 2003 recording Guido Di Leone is the signature guitarist of YVP. This album is an interesting attempt to use a trio with fellow YVP regulars Giuseppe Bassi and Massimo Manzi, a brass ensemble instead of an orchestra, and sometimes a soloist as a session member for a small arrangement (quartet or quintet). Apart from five of Guido's own compositions the ensemble tackles a few well-known standards "East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon", "Alone Together" and Dolphy's "Les". In addition, two other pieces are included by composers L. Giannatempo and ensemble member Marco Sannin. Guido's arrangements uphold a very sophisticated performance of the above-mentioned standards. His own tunes offer a complex, but invigorating journey augmented by the Ottonando Brass Ensemble. Overall, a genuine exploration of music that further highlights the virtuosity of this skilled guitarist.

 YVP Music, YVP3123, 2004
Recorded 4th-5th December, 2003 at Studio Sorriso, Bari, Italy 

Musicians:
Guido Di Leone - Guitar
Giuseppe Bassi - Double Bass
Massimo Manzi - Drums
Ottonando Brass Ensemble:
Mino Lacirignola - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet Piccolo Eb, Bandleader
Marco Sannini - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Donato Semeraro - French Horn
Giuseppe Zizzi - Trombone
Domenico Zizzi - Tuba 

Tracks:
01. Isole [Islands] {Guido Di Leone} (11:20)
02. Il Momento Infranto {Guido Di Leone} (6:20)
03. East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon {Brooks Bowman} (5:50)
04. Composed On Piano For Mal Waldron {Guido Di Leone} (10:26)
05. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (4:23)
06. Rota E Fellini {Guido Di Leone} (5:14)
07. It Might Be True {L. Giannatempo} (7:10)
08. Les {Eric Dolphy} (4:25)
09. Tema Per Un Film Che Non C'è{Guido Di Leone} (5:55)
10. The Tale Of The Black Cat {Marco Sannini} (5:14) 

Total Time: 66:23 

Credits:
Producer - York von Prittwitz
Sound Engineer - Tommy Cavalieri
Graphic Design - Tonio Delvecchio 

The Tale Of The Black Cat

Rosario Bonaccorso Quartet - Viaggiando (2015)

Bonaccorso is one of the "elder statesmen" in modern Italian Jazz circles. In Italian, "viaggiare" can have any number of meanings from traveling, to journey, or to tour. Inherent in the term is the idea that the flow of movement is the focal point, it is the journey itself that counts, not necessarily getting to the destination. Traveling with friends makes the process all that more enjoyable and also helps the time pass more pleasurably. He is joined by old and new traveling companions: Roberto Taufic: Guitar, Fabrizio Bosso: Trumpet and Javier Girotto: Soprano Sax, Quena and Moseño. The music on this CD is different because it reflects past jazz traditions while, at the same time, incorporating influences from today’s World Music. The music swings but the time is less metronomic and more inferred through the use of Latin Jazz rhythms. 

‘Viaggiando’ consists of 14 original compositions that propel listeners head-long on an incredible journey, subtly shifting from one continent to another, while drifting through emotions linked by the common thread of the "voyage”. A deep introspection pervades Rosario Bonaccorso’s music, portraying a soul-searching autobiography that reveals his passions and inspirations. There are also a few tracks where the musician sings for the first time: Storto, My Faith, Mon Frere. Once again, he has chosen his travelling companions with acute sensitivity and awareness. At his side, Fabrizio Bosso sustains the creative flow, as he intuitively chisels evocative melodic fragments with his trumpet, while Argentinian saxophonist Javier Girotto and Brazilian guitarist Roberto Taufic blend in seamlessly into the fabric, further flavouring this journey with the cultural sensitivity deriving from their homelands." ~ Extract from Jazz Profiles. 

Via Veneto Jazz, VVJ 098, 2015
Recorded at Toto Sound Studio, Rome, Italy 

Musicians:
Rosario Bonaccorso - Double Bass, Vocals
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Javier Girotto - Soprano Sax, Quena, Moxeno
Roberto Taufic - Guitar, Backing Vocals

Tracks:
01. Viaggiando (3:13)
02. Matto (3:49)
03. My Faith (5:31)
04. Storto (2:38)
05. ACJ (4:32)
06. Domin (3:22)
07. Come La Neve (4:42)
08. Give Me Your Hand And Sing (3:20)
09. Song For My Father (2:56)
10. Buon Volo (3:00)
11. Agosto (4:25)
12. Indian Summer (3:27)
13. Mister Kneipp (5:03)
14. Mon Frere (3:01) 

Music and lyrics by Rosario Bonaccorso 

Total Time: 53:05 

Credits:
Producer Jando Music
Recording Engineer - Stefano Del Vecchio
Mixing & Mastering - Eduardo Taufic
Cover "Giando Blu" - Luigi Boille
Photos - Paolo Soriani
Artwork - Enzo Criscione 

Give Me Your Hand And Sing

Andrea Brachfeld - Lady Of The Island (2011)

This is Andrea's 6th release on ZOHO music which was released in 2012. This is Andrea's first jazz release as she started moving back to her first love, jazz. The guest artists on this CD were Wallace Roney, Wycliffe Gordon, Todd Bashore, Yasek Manzano, Bill O' Connell and Chembo Corniel. It received rave reviews. ~ Andrea Brachfeld Bandcamp. 

Lady of the Island is a wonderful mix of musical selections to be enjoyed by everyone from the studied musician to the casual listener. The tunes on this recording swing hard and groove hard, and are executed at the highest level of musicality and musicianship. To date, this may be the clearest representation of Andrea's expression through her music. Though she has varied tastes in musical approaches and stylistic interpretations, she is a hard bopper at heart, and this is obvious on this date. ~ Wycliffe Gordon, Cover Notes. 

Zoho Music, ZM 201210, 2012
Recorded 20th, 21st August, 2011 at Knoop Studios, River Edge, New Jersey 

Musicians:
Andrea Brachfeld - C Flute (#1,2,4-7,9), Alto Flute (#3,8), Vocals (#8)
Wallace Roney - Trumpet (#5), Solo (#2)
Yasek Manzano - Trumpet (#2,6,9), Flugelhorn (#8)
Wycliffe Gordon - Trombone (#1,2,6)
Todd Bashore - Alto Saxophone (#2,6)
Bill O’Connell - Piano (#1-3,5-8)
Bob Quaranta - Piano (#4,9), Fender Rhodes (#8)
Andy Eulau - Bass (#1,2,4-9)
Kim Plainfield - Drums (#1,2,4-9)
Chembo Corniel - Congas (#2,6,8,9), Percussion (#8)

Tracks:
1. BeBop Hanna {Andrea Brachfeld} (6:39)
2. Eye Of The Hurricane {Herbie Hancock} (6:04)
3. I Got It Bad {Duke Ellington} (6:02)
4. Little Girl's Song {Andrea Brachfeld} (7:57)
5. Dead Ahead {Bill O’Connell} (7:00)
6. Birdlike {Freddie Hubbard} (5:47)
7. In The Center {Andrea Brachfeld, Bill O’Connell} (7:47)
8. Lady Of The Island {Graham Nash} (6:59)
9. Four Corners {Andrea Brachfeld} (6:26) 

Total Time: 60:40 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Andrea Brachfeld
Producer - Bill O'Connell
Executive Producer - Joachim "Jochen" Becker
Recording and Mixing - Chris Sulit
Mastering - Ed Littman
Design, Photography - Jack Frisch
Photography - Maureen Plainfield 

Lady Of The Island

Guido Di Leone, Vito Di Modugno, Mimmo Campanale - Con Alma (2000)

Between feeling and atmosphere, the warm and effusive sound of Vito Di Modugno's Hammond organ, the crystalline and miniature sound of Guido Di Leone's electric guitar and the rustling and fitting sound of Mimmo Campanale on drums meet and blend together for an effective and substantial jazz proposal. Both with their own songs and with renditions of various authors, Di Leone, Di Modugno and Campanale expertly tackle and resolve this formula and this sound dimension: the balance and interweaving between the parts is always adequate and the propriety of expression denoted by the musicians deserves attention. The bright and evocative flow and advance of Di Modugno's periods unfolds well-disposed and lights up airy in its underlining and sanctioning and in its growth with generous determination and lively coordination. Soft, precious and smooth, Di Leone's phrasing speaks with savoir faire and now expands into lush and clear streams of mature ease, now punctuates and jousts with inventiveness and shrewdness in his conducting, which is always enriched with new ideas. With his Drumming, Campanale proves to be a versatile accompanist, who with diaphanous and light scanning pushes the becoming of the songs and also knows how to rise to the foreground with full-bodied concreteness. ~ Giordano Selini, JazzItalia.net. [Translated From Italian] 

YVP Music, CD 3084, 2000
Recorded 20th-21st October, 1999 at Tom Tom Studio, Bari, Italy 

Musicians:
Guido Di Leone - Guitar
Vito Di Modugno - Organ [Hammond]
Mimmo Campanale - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Blue Seven {Sonny Rollins} (6:36)
02. Mr. Smith {Vito Di Modugno} (5:33)
03. Goin' Out Of My Head {Bobby Weinstein, Teddy Randazzo} (6:52)
04. Waltz {Vito Di Modugno} (6:29)
05. Mr. Montgomery {Guido Di Leone} (5:26)
06. Cariba {Wes Montgomery} (4:36)
07. The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:24)
8a. Clementine Waltz {Giacomo Giannotti} (5:36)
8b. Le Veronique {Vito Di Modugno} (0:48)
09. Zoom {Vito Di Modugno} (3:08)
10. Palavras De Um Traidor {Guido Di Leone, Paola Amesano} (6:05)
11. I Love You {Cole Porter} (4:45)
12. Whisper Not (Benny Golson} (6:38) 

Total Time: 69:52 

Credits:
Producer - York von Prittwitz
Sound Engineer - Angelo Pantaleo
Photos - Luigi Fiore
Graphic Design - Tonio Delvecchio 

Whisper Not

Roland Kirk - Gifts and Messages

 Roland Kirk - 1964 Gifts And Messages  (Mercury MG 20939)

01 The Things I Love  3:09
02 Petite Fleur  3:08
03 Hip Chops  3:29
04 Gifts And Messages   4:02
05 Vertigo Ro   4:03
06 March On, Swan Lake  3:56
07 My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice  3:22
08 Tears Sent By You   5:54
09 Where Does The Blame Lie?    2:48
10 Blues For C&T   3:06
 
Roland Kirk (ts, mzo, str, fl, siren, ob) Horace Parlan (p) Michael Fleming (b) Steve Ellington (d)

Los Angeles, CA, July 22, 1964

 Do not confuse with a posthumously issued live session from Ronnie Scott's Club, London, recorded in Oct and Sept, 1964

After Reeds and Deeds what else but Gifts and Messages? Another forgotten miracle from the man who was made of music. The version of 'Petite Fleur' is haunting and the tune 'Hip Chops' is just plain cool as hell (just try to picture how in the hell you play a flute and saxophone simultaneously). My only real complaint with this record is that the cuts are shorter than I'd like (somehow I think I'll survive).

Thomas Clausen, Tomas Franck, Jesper Lundgaard, Billy Hart - Blue Rain (2015)

Thomas Clausen, Tomas Franck, Jesper Lundgaard and Billy Hart are all jazz stars. The first three mainly on the European firmament, while the legendary American drummer's light shines throughout most of the universe. This new group was on the road during the fall of 2014 and wrapped up their tour with a two-day recording session in Copenhagen. They brought the atmosphere from their intense concerts with them to the studio and played away. It was a hot session: All four musicians in the same room; no headphones, and exclusively first takes focusing on the improvisational art that is the heartbeat of jazz. This new quartet is a reunion for Thomas Clausen and Swedish tenor saxophonist Tomas Franck. Tomas Franck is one of Scandinavia's leading saxophonists with numerous recordings under his belt. Blue Rain also brings one of Denmark's leading bassists, Jesper Lundgaard together with Tomas Franck again. Jesper has played with just about everybody -you name them; he's been there! As a new challenge, Thomas invited one of the absolute top drummers in the world, Billy Hart. Thomas Clausen put this super-group together to play a repertoire consisting mainly of his original compositions. The two exceptions are the lovely Ellington tune "Prelude to a Kiss" and a special bonus, the wonderful "Spring Is a Promise of Fall" composed by Cecilia Heick, who sings the tune with the band on the album. ~ Extract from www.amazon.com. 

Stunt Records, STUCD 15012, 2015
Recorded 22nd-23rd September, 2014 at Millfactury Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark 

Musicians:
Thomas Clausen - Piano
Tomas Franck - Tenor Saxophone
Jesper Lundgaard - Double Bass
Billy Hart - Drums
Cecilia Heick - Vocals (#7) 

Tracks:
1. Leaves {Thomas Clausen} (7:26)
2. Blue Rain {Thomas Clausen} (10:07)
3. Punk Monk {Thomas Clausen} (10:35)
4. Prelude To A Kiss {Duke Ellington} (10:12)
5. Prism {Thomas Clausen} (10:44)
6. Things You Are {Thomas Clausen} (9:03)
7. Spring Is A Promise Of Fall {Cecilia Heick} (9:25) 

Total Time: 67:32 

Credits:
Producer - Thomas Clausen
Executive-Producer - Peter Littauer, Søren Friis
Recording Engineer - Boe Larsen
Mixing & Mastering - Bjarne Hansen
Photography - Stephen Freiheit
Cover - Yellow1

Leaves

Salvatore Tranchini - Faces (2004)

A contemporary Italian hard bop masterpiece that has been difficult to obtain for over a year is finally back in stock for a limited time! Wonderful melodies are played out in rapid succession. The leader is Salvatore Tranchini, a drummer from Naples, but this work also features Fabrizio Bosso's superb solo on trumpet in a variety of tunes. First, the fast tempo (1) features sharp and melodic phrases backed by superb technique. The ballad (2) features muted play full of poetry. The melancholy lyrical solo in (3) with a Spanish/Mediterranean atmosphere is sexy! "Clifford's Memories" is performed by a piano trio alone, interpreted with a Euro-aesthetic feeling, and is also a gem. ~ ventoazul.shop-pro.jp. [Translated from Japanese] 

Red Records, RR 123301-2 CD, 2004
Recorded 12th-13th April, 2003 at Studio Il Parco, Naples, Italy 

Musicians:
Salvatore Tranchini - Drums
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Daniele Scannapieco - Saxophone
Francesco Nastro - Piano
Aldo Vigorito - Bass 

Tracks:
1. Eurostar {Fabrizio Bosso} (5:40)
2. Just A Moment {Francesco Nastro} (5:29)
3. Sad Day {Daniele Scannapieco} (10:29)
4. Triton {Francesco Nastro} (6:28)
5. Baires {Aldo Vigorito} (6:21)
6. Running {Steve Swallow} (4:07)
7. Que Te Pasa {Aldo Vigorito} (7:26)
8. Nettuno {Francesco Nastro} (5:20)
9. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson} (6:45) 

Total Time: 58:09 

Credits:
Producer - Sergio Veschi
Recording, Mixing & Mastering - Carlo Gentiletti
Graphics - Fabio Scopino
Photography - Pierpaolo Tamasi
Liner Notes - Maurizio Franco 

Eurostar