Renato Sellani Trio - A Mina (2004)

Jazz musicians all too frequently stick to standards from the Great American Songbook, so it makes sense for pianist Renato Sellani to put together a program of originals by modern composers of his native Italy. While nearly all of these songs may be unfamiliar to listeners outside of Europe, each of them proves to be a terrific vehicle for Sellani's trio, which includes bassist Massimo Moriconi and drummer Massimo Manzi. The leader contributed the touching "A Mina” (heard separately in a solo version and a trio performance), while Moriconi composed the pretty ballad "Cosi," played as a solo by Sellani. There are several guests added as well. Vocalist Tiziana Ghiglioni is featured in the haunting "Le Mille Bolle Blu" (the saxophonist is strangely unidentified, though it is likely Gianni Basso). Patrizia Conte is the singer on a playful duet of "Grande Grande Grande." Flügelhornist Enrico Rava joins the trio for the playful " Munasterio 'E Santa Chiara." This enjoyable session is warmly recommended. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Philology Records, W 272.2, 2004
Recorded 6th November, 2003 at Mu Rec Studio, Milano, Italy 

Musicians:
Renato Sellani - Piano
Massimo Moriconi - Bass
Massimo Manzi - Drums
Guests:
Enrico Rava - Trumpet (#8)
Patrizia Conte - Vocals (#10)
Tiziana Ghiglioni - Vocals (#5,13) 

Tracks:
01. Vorrei Che Fosse Amore {Antonio Amurri, Bruno Canfora} (3:44)
02. Come Sinfonia [Take 1] {Pino Donaggio} (2:18)
03. Se C'È Una Cosa Che Mi Fa Impazzire {Antonio Amurri, Bruno Canfora} (3:29)
04. Così {Massimo Moriconi, Samuele Cerri} (3:20)
05. Le Mille Bolle Blu {Vito Pallavicini, Carlo Alberto Rossi} (6:46)
06. Io E Te Da Soli {Lucio Battisti, Giulio Rapetti} (4:01)
07. A Mina [Piano Solo] {Renato Sellani} (3:52)
08. Munasterio 'E Santa Chiara {Alberto Barberis, Michele Galdieri} (2:47)
09. Amorevole {Pino Massara, Vito Pallavicini} (4:18)
10. Grande Grande Grande {Alberto Testa, Tony Renis} (4:05)
11. Tintarella Di Luna {Bruno De Filippi, Franco Migliacci} (5:29)
12. You Never Told Me {Piero Piccioni, Lydia McDonald} (3:11)
13. E Se Domani {Carlo Alberto Rossi} (5:54)
14. Amina [Trio Version] {Renato Sellani} (4:19)
15. Come Sinfonia [Alternate Take] {Pino Donaggio} (3:27) 

Total Time: 61:04 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Paolo Piangiarelli
Engineer - Paolo Falascone
Mastering - Fabio Alfonsi
Graphics - Danilo Santinelli
Photography [Front] - Franco Mancini
Photography [Inside] - Valentino Paoletti

Rosario Giuliani 4et - Connotazione Blue (1998)

Rosario Giuliani, now at his fourth album for Philology, is a great reality of - not only Italian, not only European-jazz. I believed in him at once and I'm proud of him. This particular record, devoted to some jazz standards is a stunning one and will surely consecrate him as a star in the jazz world. ~ Paolo Piangiarelli, Liner Notes. 

Rosario Giuliani is an Italian jazz saxophonist. His collaborations are innumerable. Among others are those with Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Cameron Brown, Joe Locke, Donald Harrison and in Italy with Enrico Rava, Maurizio Giammarco, Tullio de Piscopo, Franco D'Andrea, Giovanni Tommaso, Enrico Pieranunzi, Dado Moroni, Javier Girotto and Flavio Boltro. 

Philology Records, W 144.2, 1999
Recorded 10th July, 1998 at Interface Studio, Lavinio, Italy 

Musicians:
Rosario Giuliani - Alto Saxophone
Pietro Lussu - Piano
Joseph Lepore - Bass
Lorenzo Tucci - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Blues Connotation {Ornette Coleman} [Take 1] (3:03)
02. Skylark {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:59)
03. Blues Connotation {Ornette Coleman} [Take 2] (3:03)
04. Bye Bye Blackbird {Ray Henderson} (8:37)
05. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} [Take 1] (6:08)
06. Blues Connotation {Ornette Coleman} [Take 3] (6:56)
07. Invitation {Bronislaw Kaper} (8:52)
08. OW {Dizzy Gillespie} (8:42)
09. Blues Connotation {Ornette Coleman} [Take 4] (3:05)
10. Voyage {Kenny Barron} (7:54)
11. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} [Take 2] (7:16)
12. To John {Rosario Giuliani} [Take 3] (6:00) 

Total Time: 77:41 

Credits:
Producer - Paolo Piangiarelli
Engineer - Francesco Bruno
Mastering - Fabio Alfonsi
Graphics - Alberto Bigelli
Photos - Laura Camia, Maria Luisa Ferraro, Stefano Colandrea 

Rosario Giuliani and his group (together with the Philology label) were awarded the Tony De Mita Prize at the 20th Edition held in Foggia in July 1999. Rosario won the 1st edition of the Massimo Urbani Prize, in Urbisaglia in 1997 and the 19th Edition of the Europe Jazz Contest in Belgium, in 1998.

Phil Woods & Space Jazz Trio - Phil's Mood (1990)

Phil Woods has made many fine recordings for Philology, the Italian label named in his honor, and this one is no exception. He's backed by the Space Jazz Trio, anchored by the fine pianist Enrico Pieranunzi (who wrote nine of the 11 compositions heard here) and also featuring bassist Enzo Pietropaoli (who contributed the two takes of "Upstairs") and drummer Alfred Kramer. Woods' potent alto brings out the best in the pianist's strong post-bop charts, especially the driving "New Lands," the lyrical ballad "Chet," and the bittersweet waltz "Hindsight," which features Woods' hypnotic clarinet. ~ by Ken Dryden, Amazon.com. 

Philology Records, W 27.2, 1990
Recorded 15th November, 1988 at Soundvideocat Studios, Rome, Italy 

Musicians:
Phil Woods - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano
Enzo Pietropaoli - Bass
Alfred Kramer - Drums 

Tracks:
01. New Lands [Take 2] {Pieranunzi} (6:07)
02. Night Bird [Take 1] {Pieranunzi} (6:34)
03. Chet {Pieranunzi} (6:38)
04. Phil's Mood {Pieranunzi} (5:58)
05. Blue Ballad {Pieranunzi} (6:34)
06. Upstairs [Take 2] {Pietropaoli} (4:18)
07. Hindsight {Pieranunzi} (6:31)
08. New Lands [Take 1] {Pieranunzi} (4:39)
09. Upstairs [Take 1] {Pietropaoli} (4:46)
10. New Lands [Take 3] {Pieranunzi} (5:50)
11. Night Bird [Take 2] {Pieranunzi} (7:01) 

Total Time: 65:00 

Credits:
Producer - Paolo Piangiarelli
Photography - Carlo Pieroni
Graphics - Maria Virginia Piangiarelli
Liner Notes - Richard Palmer

Emanuele Cisi Quartet - An Homage [Sonny Rollins] From Italy (2001)

Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is an American tenor saxophonist and composer whose eight-decade career has led him from Harlem to the White House and all over the world, and who is considered one of the most influential musicians in jazz. He has had an integral influence on most current and emerging tenor saxophonists and Emanuele Cisi is no exception and hence Cisi for this album pays homage to the great master. Emanuele was born in Torino, Italy, in 1964. A self-taught musician, he is one of the most representative voices in the European jazz scene. His unique tone, mixed with intimate knowledge of tradition and a personal taste for composition, has become a landmark for jazz lovers. In an interview Sonny states "I'm not just avant-garde, I'm not just straight ahead, I'm not just sentimental, I'm all of these things. And I'm trying to get them together, because they’re part of me. That's what I want to portray in a coherent style." ~ by Phil Freeman, 2009. In many ways Cisi has molded his own career along these lines and therefore is quite at home playing Sonny's music, in particular a number of tunes taken from his extensive library of compositions. For this album Emanuele leads a piano-less quartet backed by guitarist Sandro Gibellini, bassist Dario Deidda and drummer Luigi Bonafede, all major players on the Italian scene and featured on may other albums released on Philology Records. A concise and evocative tribute to Theodore Walter Rollins, Enjoy! 

Philology Records, W 186.2, 2001
Recorded Live at Dr. Sax, Matelica'n Jazz Festival, 20th July, 2000 

Musicians:
Emanuele Cisi - Tenor Saxophone
Sandro Gibellini - Guitar
Dario Deidda - Bass
Luigi Bonafede - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Why Don't I {Sonny Rollins} (10:01)
2. Kids Know {Sonny Rollins} (9:37)
3. Strode Rode {Sonny Rollins} (7:00)
4. Wynton {Sonny Rollins} (5:11)
5. Duke Of Iron {Sonny Rollins} (10:14)
6. Without A Song {Eliscu, Rose, Youmans} (7:42)
7. No More {Sonny Rollins} (12:59)
8. Airegin {Sonny Rollins} (7:47) 

Total Time: 70:35

Barbara Raimondi Quartetto feat. Emanuele Cisi - Vita Da Altoparlante (1998)

Barbara Raimondi started her professional career when she was very young, working in live and recording sessions as a vocalist for dance music, acid jazz and pop productions. At the age of 24 she had her first touch with jazz music, attending the Civic Jazz Centre in Turin studying with Francesca Oliveri, a well-known Italian singer of gospel and jazz, and then with lyrical teachers getting her a deeper knowledge of vocal technique. Later on, she participated in several jazz seminaries, where she met international teachers such as Mal Waldron. In 1998 she recorded this her first CD as a soloist, called "Vita Da Altoparlante", including jazz standards and some of her own compositions, making use of the Italian language in a jazz musical form, and this record give her the very interesting participation to "Roccella Ionica Jazz Festival", taking part in an original project written and conducted by Enrico Pieranunzi. Her live activity is combined to a teaching work in both Cuneo and Palermo Conservatories and in Scuola Civica di Musica of Turin, and she leads singing and vocal technique clinics. Her mezzo - soprano voice and her versatility allow her to approach different music languages and styles, from Brazilian bossa nova and classical spanish songs from south american tradition, to classical jazz standards, as well as in her own compositions and her repertoire always carries her peculiar jazz imprint. Jazz musicians she has worked with include: Enrico Pieranunzi, Furio Di Castri, Andrea Pozza, Luigi Bonafede, Emanuele Cisi, Giampaolo Casati, Paolo Porta, Claudio Chiara, Enzo Zirilli, Riccardo Fioravanti, Roberto Taufic, Dado Moroni to name a few. Well worth an introduction if not already a fan. ~ extract from BarbaraRaimondi.net. 

Philology Records, W180.2, 1998
Recorded 5th-7th October, 1998 at Orange Studio, Genova, Italy 

Musicians:
Barbara Raimondi - Vocals
Riccardo Ruggieri - Piano
Alessandro Maiorino - Bass
Enzo Zirilli - Drums, Surdo 

Guests:
Emanuele Cisi - Tenor & Soprano Saxes (#4-6,9)
Gilson Silveira - Repinique 

Tracks:
1. Glad To Be Unhappy {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (5:21)
2. Vita Da Altoparlante {Barbara Raimondi} (4:32)
3. It Could Happen To You {Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen} (4:36)
4. Alfie {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (4:13)
5. Come Rain Or Come Shine {Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer} (5:23)
6. Una Bugia {Barbara Raimondi} (5:29)
7. Nice Work {George & Ira Gershwin} (3:33)
8. Shaker Song {Jay Beckenstein, David Lasley} (5:48)
9. Retrato Em Branco E Preto {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque} (4:35) 

Total Time: 43:34

Credits:
Recording - Marco Canepa
Mixing - Pippo Monaro
Photography - Grazia Laura
Graphics - Marina Vettorato
Liner Notes - Luigi Bonafede

Aldo Bassi Quartet - Distanze (1999)

Bassi formed the Aldo Bassi Quartet in 1998 to develop original jazz compositions. The album covers a range of moods, from the attractive waltz od "Dear Tom", a tribute to New York trumpeter Tom Harrell, through the tense conversation between the two horns at the start of "Past Years", to the probing, bluesy trumpet over a funky backbeat on "Reprise", or the graceful melodicism of the title track, "Distanze". Throughout we are reminded of the breadth of Bassi's experience. Distanze's acoustic grooves and eloquent simplicity ensure that this release will consolidate Bassi's reputation as one of the finest trumpeters on the jazz scene. ~ Extract from JazzHead notes

Philology Records, W 164-2, 1999

JazzHead Records, HEAD035, 2003

Recorded and Mixed 30^th-31^st January &1^st-2^nd February, 1999
At Crocodile Studio, Latina, Italy

Musicians:

Aldo Bassi - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Enrico Bracco - Electric Guitar

Stefano Cantarano - Double Bass

Alessandro Svampa - Drums

Guest:

Mauro Panzieri - Oboe, English Horn

Tracks:

1. Dear Tom {Aldo Bassi} (6:39)

2. Waterfall {Stefano Cantarano} (7:01)

3. Past Years {Aldo Bassi} (7:14)

4. Nadir {Aldo Bassi} (6:49)

5. Reprise {Aldo Bassi} (7:47)

6. Distanze {Aldo Bassi} (7:08)

7. Zing {Aldo Bassi} (3:54)

8. Arabian Desire {Aldo Bassi} (7:00)

9. La Sagra Del Moscarino {Aldo Bassi} (8:23)

Total Time: 63:55

Credits:

Recording and Mixing - Claudio Olimpio, Mario Marcucci

It is with great regret that we learn that Aldo Bassi passed away on May 10, 2020. He suffered for a year from an incurable disease, dying at the age of 58. The family and all those who mourn him today, are offering their most sincere and heartfelt condolences. Among those who wanted to remember him were Paolo Fresu and Nicki Nicolai ~ Extract from JazzItalia.net.