Franco D'Andrea, Hein van de Geyn, Aldo Romano - Volte (1989)

In 1989 renowned Italian pianist Franco D'Andrea formed a trio with Dutch bassist Hein van de Geyn and fellow Italian drummer Aldo Romano, releasing this album 'Volte' on the now defunct French Owl Records label. The trio came together in Ferber Studio based in Paris for two days in March laying down nine tracks. It is an energetic album dotted with five of Franco's own compositions, three from Aldo Romano, one contribution from Hein Van de Geyn and topped off with a cover of a Beatle's number 'Norwegian Wood'. In all, it is an enjoyable and captivating album presenting a solid piece of entertainment for over an hour. This rip is from a Japanese reissue; for any Italian jazz enthusiast, a welcomed addition to their collections. 

Owl Records, OWL052CD, 1989
Recorded 21st, 22nd March, 1989 at Ferber Studio, Paris, France 

Musicians:
Franco D'Andrea - Piano
Hein van de Geyn - Double Bass
Aldo Romano - Drums

Tracks:
1. Two Colors {Franco D'Andrea} (6:53)
2. Marta {Franco D'Andrea} (9:35)
3. On John's Guitar {Aldo Romano} (8:25)
4. Volte {Franco D'Andrea} (6:45)
5. Strike Again {Hein van de Geyn} (6:25)
6. The Begining Years {Franco D'Andrea} (6:10)
7. Clouds And Rain {Aldo Romano} (6:10)
8. Norwegian Wood {Paul McCartney, John Lennon} (8:25)
9. Il Camino {Aldo Romano} (5:35) 

Total Time: 63:56 

Credits:
Producer - François Lemaire, Jean-Jacques Pussiau
Recording, Mixing - Laurent Peyron
Cover, Concept, Art Direction - Bernard Amiard
Photography - Mephisto Studio 

Il Camino

Franco D'Andrea Quartet - Sorapis (2011)

Sorapis is an imposing Dolomite massif that stands as guardian of the splendid lake of Misurina, in whose waters it reflects all its austere majesty. The music contained in Sorapis like the Dolomite group of the same name: majestic, rich in history, shining, changing in shapes and colours, surprising in its development, a sure point of reference for anyone who wants to engage with it. Where the live dimension of the previous Half the Fun liberated an intrinsic exuberance, a marked executive freedom and allowed the music to form and flow mainly in the form of suites, in Sorapis the thought of D'Andrea and his quartet is organized in smaller episodes structured, with very different forms, with strongly characterized stories, true essays on the balance between writing and improvisation, between rigor and creativity. Allow yourself to be completely involved in Sorapis' music - how to grasp the beauty, the changes, the surprises that the mountain offers in the passing of a day. Like the reverberations of the sun on the granite, the plays of shadows and light, the edges and ravines that suddenly open up, the quiet of a sunset, the tumultuous plays of air and water that only summer downpours can bring about. capable of unleashing. After fifteen years of life, the quartet is an organism that thinks, breathes and produces in unison, far from automatisms, well-tested winks, aestheticisms supported by routine, not uncommon in such long-lived formations. Indeed, D'Andrea and his traveling companions proceed in the opposite direction. The profound mutual knowledge pushes towards research, experimentation, making the compositions something continuously changing, an open space where there are solid and well-recognizable structures but around and within which the four musicians move curious and unpredictable. It is impossible to point out one song rather than another because it would be like admiring a panorama from only one perspective. We then like to remember "The Single Petal Of A Rose" a vintage Ellington put there almost by chance but a brilliant demonstration of how the quartet is able to reread a piece of history making it more alive and current than ever and in perfect harmony with the entire work. [Translated from Italian] 

El Gallo Rojo Records, 314-43, 2011
Recorded 13th-14th May, 2010 at Sound Sistemi Studio, Sarithià (VC) 

Musicians:
Franco D'Andrea - Piano
Andrea Ayassot - Alto Sax, Soprano Sax
Aldo Mella - Double Bass
Zeno De Rossi - Drums

Tracks:
1. Tritoni 1 {D'Andrea, Ayassot, Mella, De Rossi} /
Seste {D'Andrea, Ayassot, Mella, De Rossi} / Old Jazz {D'Andrea} (11:08)
2. Latin Sketch {Franco D'Andrea} (9:30)
3. T.M. {D'Andrea} / Air Waves {D'Andrea} / Beatwitz {D'Andrea, Tonani} (12:05)
4. The Single Petal Of A Rose {Duke Ellington} (3:12)
5. Sorapis {Franco D'Andrea} (5:55)
6. Treble And Bass {D'Andrea, Ayassot, Mella, De Rossi} (6:22)
7. Winterpromenade {Franco D'Andrea} (4:53)
8. New Calypso {Franco D'Andrea} (3:04) 

Total Time: 56:13 

Sorapis

Furio Di Castri - Unknown Voyage (1988, 2000)

Recorded in 1988, originally released by the label A Tempo, Unknown Voyage it is a very significant work. The musical result is particularly remarkable for the level of the band here presented and for the compositions, all originals by Furio Di Castri. A recording that is a perfect example of the possibility to be in the mainstream and at the same time to be modern and original. Music built around a clear compositional project. Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, Franco D'Andrea and Furio Di Castri, a real jazz all-stars band, give life to a music in perfect balance between the written parts and the improvised ones with rare technical and expressive skills. ~ italianjazz.bandcamp.com. 

A Témpo Records, ATCD 882, 1989
Felmay Records, 21750 7019 2, 2000
Recorded December, 1988 at Studio Emme, Firenze, Italy 

Musicians:
Furio Di Castri - Double Bass
Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone
Franco D'Andrea - Piano
Paul Motian - Drums
Flavio Boltro - Trumpet (#11)
Manu Roche - Drums (#11)

Tracks:
01. Unknown Voyage (5:31)
02. Luce E Ombra (8:26)
03. Colors (3:16)
04. The Ancient Wood (0:49)
05. Lichtung (5:58)
06. Waiting (4:49)
07. Life Song (3:20)
08. Elena's Slow Dance (5:18)
09. Way Out (3:40)
10. Mingus' Faces (5:40)
11. Zac [Bonus] (4:37) 

All compositions by Furio Di Castri

Total Time: 51:30 

Credits:
Producer - Marco Magrini, Furio Di Castri
Executive Producer - Piero Borri
Engineer - Daniele Trambusti, Ben Frasinelli
Cover Design - Lucio Diana
Art Production - Piero Sisti 

Unknown Voyage

Aldo Romano - Prosodie (1995)

An interesting early session by the master drummer and composer Aldo Romano. For this album he is joined by a power-house of well-known and emerging Italian talent including trumpeter Paolo Fresu, saxophonist Stefano Di Battista, pianist Franco D'Andrea, keyboardist Jean-Michel Pilc, bassists Furio Di Castri and Michel Benita along with harmonica player Oliver Ker Ourio. All the composition are penned by Aldo Romano and as the album title 'Prosodie' infers they are structured around melody and rhythm of the sounds of a poem; rules concerning these characters of sounds. Further implying rules fixing the relationship between words and music of the song and hence the intonation and rate specific to a language. So, certainly an in-depth exploration of music, sounds and poetry, treated beautifully by a continental who’s who of fine jazz artists and musicians. 

Verve Records, 526 854 - 2, 1995
Digitally recorded 8th,9th,10th January, 1995 at Studio Gimmick, Yerres, France 

Musicians:
Aldo Romano - Drums
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#1,2,4-9,11)
Stefano Di Battista - Alto & Soprano Saxophones (#1-7,9)
Franco D'Andrea - Piano (#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Jean-Michel Pilc - Fender Rhodes, Electric Piano, Piano, Whistle
Michel Benita - Bass
Furio Di Castri - Bass (#1,2,5,7-11)
Oliver Ker Ourio - Harmonica 

Tracks:
01. Silenzio (6:27)
02. Kadie B. (5:03)
03. Dida [Poem] (2:20)
04. Folk Off (4:34)
05. Oracion (4:05)
06. La Samba Des Prophètes (5:11)
07. A Richman Is A Poor Man With Money (4:37)
08. On John's Guitar (6:26)
09. Nat Eyes (6:08)
10, Il Silenzio [Poem] (1:16)
11. Abstraction Lyrique (8:14) 

All Compositions by Aldo Romano 

Total Time: 54:24 

Credits:
Producer - Aldo Romano
Digitally mixed in 20 bits on Nagra IV D.

Franco D'Andrea with Fabrizio Bosso - Jazzitaliano Live (2007)

Here we have one of the many albums within Italian pianist Franco D'Andrea's vast discography and of the Jazzitaliano series. A live date from 2007 where he is joined by special guest Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet; also included within the quintet are Gianluca Petrella on trombone, Daniele D'Agaro on clarinet and Zeno De Rossi on drums. The group sets about exploring a number of lively medleys intermingled with a few of Franco's own compositions. A rewarding program, Enjoy!

Casa Del Jazz, CdJ2_07, 2007

Recorded 26^th February, 2007 At Casa del Jazz, Rome, Italy

Musicians:

Franco D'Andrea - Piano

Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet

Gianluca Petrella - Trombone

Daniele D'Agaro - Clarinet

Zeno De Rossi - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Medley (14:59)

=============

1a. March {Franco D'Andrea}

1b. King Porter Stomp {Jelly Roll Morton}

1c. Misterioso {Thelonious Monk}

1d. M 3 {Franco D'Andrea}

1e. Half The Fun {Billy Strayhorn}

2. Medley (13:05)

=============

2a. Savoy Blues {Kid Ory}

2b. Turkish Mambo {Lennie Tristano}

2c. Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington}

3. Deep {Franco D'Andrea} (3:54)

=========================

4. I've Found A New Baby {Spencer Williams} (6:25)

===========================================

5. Medley (8:05)

============

5a. Epistropy {Thelonious Monk}

5b. Grapes {Franco D'Andrea}

6. Medley (10:13)

=============

6a. Lychees {Franco D'Andrea}

6b. Two Colors {Franco D'Andrea}

7. March {Franco D'Andrea} (4:30)

=============================

8. Medley (7:19)

============

8a. Rag And Blues {Franco D'Andrea}

8b. Turkish Mambo {Lennie Tristano}

Credits:

Artistic Producer - Luciano Linzi

Sound Supervision - Pasquale Minieri

Sound Technician - Ascanio Cusella

Mixing - Marti Jane Robertson

Mastering - Antonio Baglio / Nautilus

Photography - Luciano Viti

Graphics - Arké

Artistic Consultancy And Booklet Texts - Alberto Castelli

Text Collaboration - Federico Scoppio

Lee Konitz - Stereokonitz (1968) [re-rip]

Lee Konitz has had many opportunities to record with European artists over the decades, but this session is a bit unusual, in that all the compositions are by bassist Giovanni Tommaso; and Konitz doesn't stick strictly to alto saxophone. Joining them are pianist Franco D'Andrea, trumpeter Enrico Rava and drummer Gegé Munari. Tommaso's charts delve into bop and cool, with Konitz primarily playing the varitone, though he does play some alto sax and also makes a rare appearance on flute (doubling on it in "Take Seven"). While the music from this 1968 session is enjoyable, even though the sound quality of the varitone pales when compared to a regular saxophone, this remains one of Lee Konitz's more obscure recordings from the '60s. ~ Extracts taken from review by Ken Dryden, AMG.

This LP is one of my favourite Lee Konitz albums. It’s a truly distinctive session revealing a brilliant class of sound! For this album Konitz tries out a varitone sax, as well as playing flute and alto. This session is a rather different undertaking in that Lee comes together with an elite grouping of some of Europe’s top musicians, at this time 1968, playing some very contemporary tunes that are partly modal and in a soul jazz style. This uniqueness being mainly due to the absorbing compositions penned by the bassist Giovanni Tommaso. The group includes other Italian stars Enrico Rava on trumpet and Franco d'Andrea on piano. This assemblage of great artists allows Konitz to in reality to stretch out more so, especially noticeable when soloing. All tracks showcase the musical talents of all the players. It is wonderful to hear matching of both Rava and d’Andrea throughout this fine LP. Highlights include “Five, Four And Three”, “Komonia”, “Midnight Mood”, “Terre Lontane” and “Tune Down”. However in essence the whole LP is fantastic, Enjoy!

Recorded in October, 1968 in Rome, Italy

DejaVù Records, DJV 20000 42, 2008

Personnel:

Lee Konitz - Alto Sax (#A3,B1), Flute (#B2), Varitone (#A1,A2,A4,B2-B4)

Enrico Rava - Trumpet
Franco d'Andrea - Piano

Giovanni Tommaso - Bass

Gegé Munari - Drums

Tracks:

A1. A Minor Blues (4:37)

A2. Five, Four And Three (3:32)

A3. Komonia (4:43)

A4. Midnight Mood (3:50)

B1. Terre Lontane (5:25)

B2. Take Seven (3:11)

B3. Giovanni D'Oggi (4:20)

B4. Tune Down (4:51)

Credits:

All Compositions by Giovanni Tommaso

Arranger - Thomas Giovannio
Sound Engineer - Guilio Spelta

Assistant Music - Guido Cenciarelli

Photos and Design - ZOOM

Other releases include:

RCA Italiana [Original Cast]; Catalog#: OLS 2; 1969

RCA Records [Jazz Masters - France]; PL 31257; 1969

Enrico Rava Quartet - Ah (1979) [vinyl]

>>Ah<< features bassist Giovanni Tommaso, drummer Bruce Ditmas and Franco D'Adrea, whose pianism lights up even the darkest corners.

Feeling a little under the weather? Then open up and say Ah, because Doctor Rava is in! This warm rainy day session is the perfect sonic elixir for what ails you. The sumptuous diagnostics of “Lulu” lay their pianistic hands upon us first, and with them the album’s leitmotif. Rava and D’Andrea are in fine conversational form here, as they ever are, cracking open a Pandora’s Box of free improv before re-attuning to a smoldering vamp. Rava starts us off strongly in “Outsider,” in which he swings his rhythm section around and around like children holding hands in a field. A swift kick from Ditmas brings us solid thematic closure. “Small Talk” allows Tommaso his just airtime in what is by far the highlight of the examination. Rava checks our pulse in the groovier “Rose Selavy,” breezes wistfully through the title track, and gives way to “Trombonauta,” the album’s brief yet impactful ballad, before ending “At The Movies.” This eclectic ode breathes with the magic of Cinema Paradiso while threatening to topple from the weight of its own remembrance. ~ by Tyran Grillo, ecmreviews.com.

ECM Records, ECM 1166, 1980

Recorded December, 1979 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Musicians:

Enrico Rava - Trumpet

Franco D'Andrea - Piano

Giovanni Tommaso - Bass

Bruce Ditmas - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Lulu (8:05)

A2. Outsider (6:16)

A3. Small Talk (5:00)

B1. Rose Selavy (4:51)

B2. Ah (6:00)

B3. Trombonauta (2:46)

B4. At The Movies (5:45)

All Compositions by Enrico Rava

Credits:

Producer - Thomas Stowsand

Engineer - Martin Wieland

Cover - Michelango Pistoletto

Layout - Dieter Rehm

Enrico Rava - Pupa o Crisalide (1975) [re-rip>flac]

"Pupa o Crisalide" isn't his most acclaimed record, but it's my favourite one. It's a good summary of the first phase of his solo career, and it contains tracks recorded with three different ensembles: an all-Italian line-up for the opener and closer - recorded in Rome, an Argentinean octet for the B-side of the LP - recorded in Buenos Aires, and finally an impressive American septet (just two names: Jack DeJohnette, John Abercrombie) for the A-side, recorded in New York. The musical style clearly reflects the composite nature of the album. The first half is funkier, edgier and fierier, evidently influenced by the jazz-rock/fusion tendencies that were spreading during those years. The second one is more placid and skippy, and elegantly incorporates some Latin/Samba elements in the alchemy.

The two halves are held together by the timbric similarity of the line-ups (which feature almost the same elements), and by Enrico Rava's renown trumpet style. Often compared to Miles Davis and Kenny Wheeler, his technique envisages rarefied notes, full of ambience, and erratic melodic lines which surprisingly do not undermine the "presence" of his trumpet sound. On the contrary, Rava's trumpet charisma seems to emerge right from this amazing equilibrium of detachedness and red-bloodedness. Source: Ilgolpeeluva.blogspot.com

RCA-VISTA, THP1 1116, 1975

Recorded on 15th-16th July, 1974 (#A1, B4) in Rome, Italy;

December, 1973 (#A2, A3) in New York:

April, 1974 (#B1, B2, B3) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Personnel:

Enrico Rava - Trumpet

Tommaso Vittorini - Tenor Saxophone, Arranger (#A1,B4)

Finito Ginbert - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#B1-B3)

David Horowitz - Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer (#A2,A3)

Franco D'Andrea - Piano (#A1,B4)

Matias Pizzarro - Piano (#B1-B3)

John Abercrombie - Electric Guitar (#A2,A3)

Ricardo Lew - Electric Guitar (#B1-B3)

Michele Ascolese - Guitar (#A1,B4)

Rodolfo Mederos - Bandoneon (#B1-B3)

Giovanni Tommaso - Bass (#A1,B4)

Herb Bushler - Bass, Bass Guitar (#A2,A3)

El Negro Gonzales - Double Bass (#B1- B3)

Bruno Biriaco - Drums (#A1,B4)

Jack DeJohnette - Drums (#A2,A3)

Nestor Astarita - Drums (#B1-B3)

Mandrake - Percussion (#A1,B4)

El Chino Rossi - Percussion (#B1-B3)

Ray Armando - Percussion (#A2,A3)

Warren Smith - Percussion (#A2,A3)

Tracks:

A1. Pupa O Crisalide (4:03)

A2. C.T.'s Dance (6:43)

A3. Tsakwe (8:11)

B1. El Samba Graciela (4:09)

B2. Revisione Del Processo N. 6 (10:25)

B3. Lingua Franca (4:35)

B4. Giromondo (3:35)

All Compositions by Enrico Rava

Rava's early works are strongly influenced by Miles Davis music and (fortunately!) almost don't include that honey-sweet South European melodies and over-emotional sentimentality that can destroy even good compositions. “Pupa O Crisalide” was recorded with three different ensembles in three different continents and naturally it contains a variety of music.

The album's opener and closer both were recorded in Rome with Italian musicians and are closest to Rava's later "Italian recordings". Still Miles Davis influences are obvious. The rest of the vinyl on side A was recorded in New York with an American septet (including such musicians as John Abercrombie (on electric guitar) and drummer Jack DeJohnette); these tracks are strongest part of the album. Similar to Miles Davis electric fusion period, the music here is a bit warmer, more airborne and a bit softer, but in itself sounds excellent (if not extremely original).

The first three compositions on side B were recorded in Buenos Aires with Argentinean musicians and hence contain music influenced by Latin Fusion. Overall album is can be considered variable and has some really strong moments. Very soon Enrico will start working for ECM and his music will become much more predictable. One strong Italian jazz album and excellent entry to Enrico Rava music. ~ Jazzmusicarchives.com

Johnny Griffin - Jazz A Confronto 10 (1974) [re-rip>true flac]

On this LP Griffin is featured in a quartet backed by renowned Italian pianist Franco D'Andrea, bassist Giovanni Tommaso and drummer Bruno Biriaco. This album is his only collaboration with D'Andrea, despite spending a number of years on the continent. It's a rhythm section that swings beautifully and remains tight, qualities essential to provide the necessary background to Griffin's playing. However not only do the Italian musicians support his work well their own solos are very effective and are an additional source of interest for this album. Above all the style of Franco D'Andrea and his Trio is very distinct compared with other groups Griffin led whilst in Europe. According to all available discographies this album is the only existing testimony of his playing during all of 1974. The bulk of his European dates were set around 1973 and the recordings held at the Jazzhus Monmartre in Denmark are of great interest to aficionados. The LP consists of two fiery numbers and two slower ballads. Three of the compositions are penned by Griffin; "Keep Going" is written by Giovanni Tommaso. In all this album further demonstrates a master tenorman at work, so give it a spin.

HORO Records, HLL 101-10, 1974

Recorded 7th April, 1974 at “Titania’s Studio”, Rome, Italy

Tracks:

A1. Music Inn Blues {Johnny Griffin} (8:34)

A2. For The Love Of {Johnny Griffin} (8:01)

B1. Always Forever {Johnny Griffin} (7:06)

B2. Keep Going {Giovanni Tommaso} (11:52)

Personnel:

Johnny Griffin - Tenor Saxophone

Franco D'Andrea - Piano

Giovanni Tommaso - Bass

Bruno Biriaco - Drums

Credits:

Director - Andrea Camilleri

Sound Engineer - Massimo di Cicco

Graphic Design - Giorgio Spadanuda

Photos - Ennio Antonangeli

Liner Notes - Marcello Piras