Enrico Pieranunzi, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron - Current Conditions (2003)

More tunes from the Pieranunzi-Johnson-Baron trio, to caress your ears. The trio's magic hits home again and heads straight for your soul, tickling it with new original compositions by Enrico, Marc, and Joey. Pure pleasure. 

“I once described Thelonious Monk's original recording of 'Ruby My Dear' as 'sentiment without sentimentality'. Enrico Pieranunzi's playing and compositions have that same quality in their own way. No doubt he is both a romantic and a deep thinker. The combination of heart and mind is a most valuable amalgam in any art form. The blend is mixed differently by each individual. Pieranunzi's is a heady brew whose aromatic essences draw you in. They make you think. More so, they make you feel." ~ Ira Gitler, CamJazz.com. 

C.A.M. Jazz, CAMJ 7756-2, 2003
Recorded 28th November, 2001 Live at Sala B, RadioRai, Rome, Italy 

Personnel:
Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano, Arranger
Marc Johnson - Double Bass
Joey Baron - Drums 

Tracks:
01. How Can You Not? {Enrico Pieranunzi} (6:21)
02. Alle Rive Lontane {Enrico Pieranunzi} (8:03)
03. Ravel's Walk {Marc Johnson} (5:16)
04. Illusions Market {Enrico Pieranunzi} (5:31)
05. Simul {Enrico Pieranunzi} (5:02)
06. Night After Night {Enrico Pieranunzi} (7:27)
07. Joey's Magic Tricks {Joey Baron, Marc Johnson, Enrico Pieranunzi} (2:52)
08. When You Look At Me {Enrico Pieranunzi} (7:44)
09. What's Really Going On {Enrico Pieranunzi} (5:08)
10. If Only For A Time {Enrico Pieranunzi} (5:59)
11. Trio Reflections {Joey Baron, Marc Johnson, Enrico Pieranunzi} (5:00)
12. Broken Time {Joey Baron} (6:03) 

Total Time: 70:32

Credits:
Artistic Producer - Ermanno Basso
Engineer - Rita Franceschini, Roberto Rossi
Mixdown Engineer - Luciani Torani
Mixing Assistant - Damiano Antinori
Mastering - Danilo Rossi
Photography - Alessia Calvani 

Compelling Synergy
-----------------
Intimately recorded and imported live trio persuasively performs diverse post-bop powered by Pieranunzi's personal approach which sounds neither derivative nor intellectual. ~ IRate, 5 Stars, Amazon.com.

Edward Simon, Scott Colley, Clarence Penn - A Master's Diary (2006)

It may be that he is not as famous as his compatriot Ennio Morricone, but Fiorenzo Carpi (1918-1997) is also valued in professional circles and his oeuvre is rated as equal. Even if the name has been forgotten by now, the melodies of the Italian are certainly not. The public-shy Milanese wrote the music for countless cinema, television films, movie soundtracks and stage productions. Some of the most beautiful examples from Maestro Carpi's extensive catalog of works can be heard on "A Master's Diary" in emphatically lyrical jazz adaptations. Here the Edward Simon Trio preserves the narrative magic of the film themes and at the same time emphasizes their timeless beauty. It is, for example, quite magical how Simon gently touches the sequence "Nel Parco" from "Maggio Musicale" on the grand piano. And the rhythmically free flowing "In Cerca di Cibo" from the TV series "Le Avventure di Pinocchio" presents the pianist and his colleagues as extremely sensitive. We then experience them from another side in the quickly swinging "Valzer Lento". Edward Simon, who comes from Venezuela and has lived in the USA since the mid-1980s, has earned a reputation as a versatile and extremely clever pianist. At the side of Terence Blanchard, Avishai Cohen, Brian Blade, Don Byron or Herbie Mann, he made people sit up and take notice as well as leading his own ensembles. In particular, his work in the jazz trio, from which acclaimed studio albums and celebrated appearances in jazz temples such as the Village Vanguard have grown, earned the South American the highest merits. For "A Master's Diary" he collaborated with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Clarence Penn putting together a wonderfully harmonious trio cast. On the album opener "Eugenia's Theme", Diego Urcola joins as a guest on the muted trumpet. Over all a beautiful set of compositions brought to life, Enjoy! ~ Extract by Lena Carle, qrious.de. [Translated from German] 

C.A.M. Jazz, CAMJ 7843-2, 2012
Recorded 26th & 27th July, 2006 at Sear Sound, New York 

Musicians:
Edward Simon - Piano, Solo (#5,10)
Scott Colley - Bass
Clarence Penn - Drums
Diego Urcola - Trumpet (#1) 

Tracks:
01. Eugenia's Theme (6:01)
02. Passeggiata Nel Parco (7:34)
03. In Cerca Di Cibo (5:51)
04. Nel Parco (3:07)
05. Diario Di Un Maestro (3:34)
06. Valzer Lento (5:18)
07. Eugenia's Theme (6:19)
08. Passeggiata Nel Parco [Reprise] (6:32)
09. Diario Di Un Maestro (3:40)
10. In Cerca Di Cibo (3:57) 

All Compositions by Fiorenzo Carpi 

Total Time: 51:53 

Credits:
Producer - Ermanno Basso
Engineer, Mixing - Joe Barbaria
Mastering - Danilo Rossi
Photography - Andrea Boccalini
Liner Notes - Federico Scoppio

Kenny Wheeler with John Taylor, Steve Swallow - One Of Many (2011)

Kenny Wheeler sticks to flügelhorn exclusively for this unusual yet intimate trio date with pianist John Taylor and electric bassist Steve Swallow (whose nimble playing makes it seem like he is playing an acoustic guitar at times). Together the three veterans explore the leader's stunning originals, most of which are ballads, beginning with the buoyant Brazilian-flavored "Phrase 3." "Anticipation" is a tense affair, with the rhythm section introducing a hypnotic, intricate vamp before Wheeler makes a powerful entrance stating its melancholic theme. "Old Ballad" has an air of despair, as if recalling a long-lost love, as Wheeler's expressive tone conveys the mood without the need for lyrics. "Fortune's Child" is another emotional ballad, with Taylor at times recalling Bill Evans' elegant touch. "Ever After" is played in two versions. The first omits Wheeler, with Taylor and Swallow delivering a breezy, post-bop performance. The trio version takes a while to get underway but the interplay between the three men is a joy. Highly recommended. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

C.A.M. Jazz, CAMJ 7835-2, 2011
Recorded & Mixed 30th-31st July 30, 2006 at Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, Germany 

Musicians:
Kenny Wheeler - Flügelhorn
John Taylor - Piano
Steve Swallow - Electric Bass Guitar 

Tracks:
01. Phrase 3 (6:12)
02. Anticipation (5:25)
03. Aneba (5:59)
04. Any How (3:16)
05. Canter #5 (4:04)
06. Ever After [Duo Version] (3:06)
07. Now And Now Again (5:13)
08. Old Ballad (6:58)
09. Fortune's Child (6:20)
10. Even After (5:41) 

All Compositions by Kenny Wheeler

Total Time: 52:20

Credits:
Artistic Producer - Ermanno Basso
Engineer, Mixing, Quotation Author - Johannes Wohlleben
Mastering - Danilo Rossi
Quotation Author - Stefano Amerio, James Farber
Photography - Peter Bastian
Cover Photo - Andrea Boccalini

Kenny Wheeler & John Taylor - Where Do We Go From Here? (2004)

On 14th January 2005, Kenny Wheeler turns 75, and the title of this duo album on Italy's CamJazz label very likely sums up his attitude to the landmark day. The Toronto-born trumpeter, flugelhorn player and composer has been quietly but progressively inventive all his life (the British jazz scene has been the main beneficiary, since his move here in 1952), and that hasn't changed since he entered his 70s. As with Chet Baker later in life, slight hesitancies of pitching and intonation now seem only to add deeper timbres of humanity to Wheeler's voice, which can be remote at times. The music here, however, is anything but distant, with Wheeler's improvising on 10 songs (mostly originals) full of glancing ambiguities and softly startling turns. Pianist John Taylor is dazzling all the way through, without disrupting the fragile romanticism of his composing partner's muse. 

Wheeler balances idiosyncratic melodic journeys with shrewdly placed accents and his trademark falsetto squeal on the only imported piece (Summer Night), with Taylor first patrolling supportively around him, then launching into a solo flood of time-changes, percussive sounds, classical rhapsodies and ambiguous chords. Taylor's plangent Au Contraire and the dignified dance of Canter exemplify this session's mix of improvisational inventiveness and harmonic audacity. The title track is a lost-and-found exercise, the irresolute steps of its opening becoming firmer as the theme unfolds, and Taylor's steadily pulsing Dance deploys colourful trumpet overdubs. Ostensibly low-key and twilit music, but a quiet turmoil of invention beneath. ~ by John Forsham, TheGuardian.com. 

C.A.M. Jazz, CAMJ 7764-2, 2004
Recorded 17th-19th February, 2004 at Artesuono Studio, Cavalicco, Udine, Italy 

Musicians:
Kenny Wheeler - Trumpet, Flügelhorn
John Taylor - Piano 

Tracks:
01. Summer Night {Al Dubin, Harry Warren} (6:21)
02. For Tracy {Kenny Wheeler} (5:04)
03. Mabel {Kenny Wheeler} (5:01)
04. Au Contraire {Kenny Wheeler} (4:31)
05. Canter N. 1 {Kenny Wheeler} (5:25)
06. Squiggles {Kenny Wheeler} (5:57)
07. One Two Three {Kenny Wheeler} (6:45)
08. Where Do We Go From Here? {Kenny Wheeler} (5:12)
09. Dance {Kenny Wheeler} (3:38)
10. Fordor {Kenny Wheeler} (6:20) 

Total Time: 54:14

Credits:
Producer - Ermanno Basso
Recording, Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Stefano Amerio
Management Contractor - Andrea Marini
Photos - Luca D'Agostino
Graphics - Studio Grafite
Sleeve Notes - Ian Carr 

Trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and pianist John Taylor have worked together in many settings through the years. Their duet set features lyrical explorations of nine originals and Harry Warren's "Summer Night." Wheeler and Taylor often echo each other's thoughts and, although much of the music is melancholy and ballad-oriented, it never gets sleepy or overly predictable. The two musicians operate as equals and consistently uncover quiet beauty in these pieces. This outing is well worth exploring by those who are patient and listen closely. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.