Claudio Fasoli - Lido (1983)

"What is particularly pleasurable about this session is the clarity of it all, the lines, the time, the collective and solo improvisatory direction.  And out in front is a leader of fire and delicacy, directness and intimacy-- Claudio Fasoli." ~ Nat Hentoff, Liner Notes. 

Excellent vigorous lyrical mainstream post-bop from this quartet of Fasoli on tenor and soprano sax, Kenny Drew on piano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums playing six of Fasoli's tunes. ~ SadRoger, rateyourmusic.com. 

Soul Note, 121071-2, 1983
Recorded 22nd & 24th February, 1983 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy 

Musicians:
Claudio Fasoli - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Kenny Drew - Piano
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Bass
Barry Altschul - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Snob (7:21)
2. Lyrical Touch (3:26)
3. Etna (8:42)
4. Lido (6:44)
5. Map (7:21)
6. Jazz Job (5:42) 

All Compositions by Claudio Fasoli 

Total Time: 39:26 

Credits:
Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini
Recording Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi
Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone
Cover Design - Pick Up Studios
Cover Painting - Claudio Rebaudo
Photography [Cover] - Mirko R. Boscolo
Liner Notes [English] - Nat Hentoff 

Etna

Klaus Suonsaari - Inside Out (1995)

Klaus Suonsaari is a perfect example of how throughly jazz music has become an international institution. Born in Finland, into a musical family that had a lot of jazz records, Klaus began piano lessons at age six and settled into his drum kit by fourteen. 

Finn drummer Klaus Suonsaari with global super group comprised of vibist Steve Nelson, reeder Scott Robinson, trumpeter Scott Wendholt, pianist Renee Rosnes and bassist Ray Drummond; With original material, modern and ancient standards, we're fed the nectars of a supersencious jazz beauty like seemingly only a drummer's finesse may wrest off the guardians’ petals and hand it to his band without any enchantment lost. ~ TheEclectic. 

Soul Note, 121274-2, 1995
Recorded 7th & 8th March, 1994 at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Klaus Suonsaari - Drums
Scott Wendholt – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Scott Robinson - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Flute
Renee Rosnes - Piano
Steve Nelson - Vibraphone
Ray Drummond - Bass 

Tracks:
01. Wake-Up Call {Scott Robinson} (5:19)
02. Her Song {Klaus Suonsaari} (7:13)
03. Driftin' {Herbie Hancock} (6:44)
04. I'll Be Around {Alex Wilder} (7:31)
05. Choices {Klaus Suonsaari} (7:34)
06. For The Three Of Us {Paul Read} (6:17)
07. Everyday {Klaus Suonsaari} (7:26)
08. There's A Small Hotel {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (8:40)
09. Dreaming Of You {Klaus Suonsaari} (5:58)
10. Inside Out {Klaus Suonsaari} (8:40) 

Total Time: 01:11:29 

Credits:
Producer - Klaus Suonsaari
Executive-Producer - Flavio Bonandrini
Recording Engineer - Mike Marciano
Engineer [Assistant] - Don Ranieri
Editing Engineer - Joe Marciano
Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone
Cover [Art] - Susan Rotolo
Photography - Ari Heinonen, Leena Isbom

Enrico Pieranunzi - In That Dawn Of Music (1990-93)

A marvelous compilation of works by Enrico Pieranunzi spanning the years 1990 till 1993. All tracks are taken from live dates spread across venues in Denmark, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. As a result, he is accompanied by unique players from those countries whilst on tour. Many of these groupings have appeared on some of his Soul Note records from this period, but like other ‘giveaways’ by the Musica Jazz magazine these tracks have been compiled from unreleased ‘live’ recordings. So many thanks to that magazine for promoting and perpetuating another fantastic resource for Jazz Lovers throughout the world. 

Musica Jazz/Soul Note, SNMJ 003-2, 1993
13th August, 1990 (#1) Broadcast from Danish Radio, Copenhagen, Denmark
12th March 1993 (#2) at Ivrea Jazz Festival, Turin, Italy
27th August, 1992 (#3) at Roccella Ionica, Calabria, Italy
21st November, 1992 (#4) at "Fabrik", Hamburg, Germany
13th December, 1990 (#5) Broadcast, Radio Suisse Romande, Lausanne, Switzerland
27th August, 1992 (#6) Live at Roccella Ionica, Calabria, Italy
18th April, 1990 (#7) in Rome, Italy
20th November, 1992 (#8) at "Jazzhouse", Copenhagen, Denmark 

Musicians:
Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano (All Tracks)
Pietro Tonolo - Tenor Saxophone (#4)
Stefano D'Anna - Tenor Saxophone (#7)
Mads Vinding - Bass (#1)
Enzo Pietropaoli - Bass (#4,7,8)
Marc Johnson - Bass (#5)
Alex Riel - Drums (#1)
Paul Motian - Drums (#3,6)
Fabrizio Sferra - Drums (#4,8)
Roberto Gatto - Drums (#7) 

Tracks:
1. Someday My Prince Will Come {Larry Morey, Frank Churchill} (7:57)
2. Impromptu No. 5 {Enrico Pieranunzi} (4:30)
3. Anthropology {Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie} (6:52)
4. What's What {Enrico Pieranunzi} (12:06)
5. Je Ne Sais Quoi {Enrico Pieranunzi} (8:52)
6. Straight No Chaser {Thelonious Monk} (4:48)
7. In That Dawn Of Music {Enrico Pieranunzi} (7:39)
8. Someday My Prince Will Come {Larry Morey, Frank Churchill} (11:22) 

Total Time: 64:06 

Notes:
Given away free with "Musica Jazz" Magazine, n. 10/93

Kenny Wheeler Quintet - Flutter, By Butterfly (1987) [re-rip]

Warmly expressive work from trumpeter Kenny Wheeler - a set that's got the same depth of tone as his work for other labels, but which has a bit of a different feel as well. The record has maybe a bit more bite - not necessarily on Wheeler's trumpet or flugelhorn, the latter of which still retains its wonderfully airy sound - but instead on the overall conception, which makes careful but creative use of other group members - especially John Taylor on piano and Dave Holland on bass, as well as Billy Elgart on drums, and Stan Sulzmann on soprano, tenor, and flute. All tunes are originals by Wheeler, and really lovely ones at that - and titles include "Gigolo", "The Little Fella", "Miold Man", "We Salute The Night", and "Everybody's Song But My Own". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

The return to light of a true gem by modern jazz master Kenny Wheeler. Flutter By, Butterfly was recorded in 1987 and originally published by Soul Note in 1988. Wheeler's visionary musical concepts develop through the interplay of this stellar quintet. A wide-open space for dense and lyrical dialogues between the leader's flugelhorn and cornet and Stan Sulzman's reeds, John Taylor's painterly harmonies and the Dave Holland, Billy Elgart floating rhythm section. ~ Juno

Soul Note Records, SN 121 146-1, 1988

Recorded 26^th & 27^th May, 1987 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy

Personnel:

Kenny Wheeler - Flugelhorn, Cornet

Stan Sulzmann - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones, Flute

John Taylor - Piano

Dave Holland - Bass

Billy Elgart - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Everybody's Song But My Own (9:30)

A2. We Salute The Night (5:07)

A3. Miold Man (9:17)

B1. Flutter By, Butterfly (8:47)

B2. Gigolo (8:20)

B3. The Little Fella (7:14)

All Compositions by Kenny Wheeler

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini

Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi

Mastering - Gennaro Carone

Cover Art - Giuliano Crivelli

Liner Notes - Mike Hennessey

Michael Cochrane Trio - Song Of Change (1993)

An excellent straight-ahead hard bop pianist, Michael Cochrane performs four of his originals and six standards, including swinging versions of "On Green Dolphin Street," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," and "Autumn Leaves" on this trio set. Assisted by bassist Marcus McLaurine and drummer Alan Nelson, Cochrane adds his own musical personality to the hard bop tradition, creating music that should please straight-ahead jazz fans. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Down Beat (12/93, p.41) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Solid...cheery uptempo takes on standards..."

JazzTimes (4/95, pp.87-88) - "...SONG OF CHANGE offers music executed with unselfconscious assurance guaranteeing fondly repeated listening..."

Soul Note, 121251-2, 1993

Recorded 23^rd-24^th November, 1992 At Garden Productions, New York

Musicians:

Michael Cochrane - Piano

Marcus McLaurine - Bass

Alan Nelson - Drums

Tracks:

01. S.C.C. {Michael Cochrane} (5:57)

02. Once I Loved {Ray Gilbert, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes} (6:48)

03. Prelude To A Kiss {Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills} (6:45)

04. On Green Dolphin Street {Bronislaw Kaper, Ned Washington} (6:46)

05. No Pain, No Gain {Michael Cochrane} (5:07)

06. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top {Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers} (8:00)

07. Cloud 9 {Michael Cochrane} (6:08)

08. Autumn Leaves {Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert} (7:08)

09. Song Of Change {Michael Cochrane} (6:57)

10. Bemsha Swing {Denzil Best, Thelonious Monk} (5:16)

Credits:

Producer - Michael Cochrane

Executive Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini

Engineer, Mixing - Jimmy Madison

Mastering - Gennaro Carone

Liner Notes - Bill Shoemaker

Total Time: 64:52

Michael Cochrane Quintet - Elements (1986) [vinyl]

Michael Cochrane (born September 4, 1948 in Peekskill, New York) is an American jazz pianist. This album is Cochrane's first of two recorded as a leader, and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1986; the follow-up being "Song Of Change" in 1993. Essentially in recent years Cochrane has recorded extensively for SteepleChase Records and needs no introduction as a preeminent pianist. As a sideman, he has recorded with Marvin Peterson, Oliver Lake, Sonny Fortune and Jack Walrath. On this LP he is joined by trumpeter Tom Harrell, saxophonist and flautist Bob Malach, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer James Madison. All tunes are penned by Michael and showcase a broad range of styles ranging from bop, hard bop through to post-bop. The group as a whole show great prowess and there are many opportunities for individual players to display their talents. The tracks are dotted with a number of brilliant solos. Inherently Cochrane is the anchor and clearly drives the group in manner that truly expresses his skills as a composer. A truly entertaining LP from start to finish, something that most listeners would wish never to end. Even though, it was released briefly on CD in 1993 the music has been ripped from the original vinyl resulting in a DR of 16. Artwork has been amassed from both releases, especially the liner notes from CD for clarity, enjoy!

Soul Note, SN 1151, 1986

Recorded 23^rd & 24^th September, 1985 At Titanic Sound Studios, New York

Musicians:

Michael Cochrane - Piano

Tom Harrell - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Bob Malach - Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Dennis Irwin - Bass

James Madison - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Reunion {Michael Cochrane} (6:05)

A2. Tone Row Piece No. 2 {Michael Cochrane} (7:15)

A3. Bossa For Quintet {Michael Cochrane} (7:24)

B1. Elements {Michael Cochrane} (6:58)

B2. Song From Within {Michael Cochrane} (7:02)

B3. Proof Of The Pudding {Michael Cochrane} (2:57)

B4. Waltz No. 1 {Michael Cochrane} (6:29)

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini

Recording Engineer - Guillermo Mager

Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone (PhonoComp, Milano)

Design [Cover] - Michael Cochrane

Photography - Gene Bagnato

Liner Notes - Art Lange

This album is dedicated to the loving memory of my late mother, Mrs. Mildred Cochrane 1920-1986

Dave Liebman Group - Songs For My Daughter (1994)

"...That the music is not all sweetness and light is indicative of unconditional love's travails.... SONGS FOR MY DAUGHTER is as varied and moving a recital as this virtuoso reedman has ever recorded." ~ Cam Jazz.

Essentially, an overlooked album from his vast discography, this album released on the Italian label soul note is a foray into a more the acoustical and programmatic collective. This endeavour is enhanced by the addition of two great players pianist Phil Markowitz and guitarist Vic Juris, not to disparage the rest of his well-versed and stalwart group.

Soul Note, 121 295-2, 1995

Recorded May, 1994 At Red Rock, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Musicians:

Dave Liebman - Soprano Saxophone, Wooden Flute

Phil Markowitz - Acoustic Piano

Vic Juris - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar

Tony Marino - Bass, Electric Bass

Jamey Haddad - Drums, Percussion

Scott Cutshall - Percussion (#7)

Lydia Liebman - Vocals (#9)

Tracks:

1. Little Peanut {Dave Liebman} (7:25)

2. Arrival {Dave Liebman} (6:20)

3. For Lydia {Caris Visentin} (6:30)

4. Innocence {Dave Liebman} (8:43)

5. Tomato Face {Dave Liebman} (5:06)

6. Papoose {Dave Liebman} (8:04)

7. Sins Of The Fathers {Dave Liebman} (8:56)

8. Mommie's Eyes {Dave Liebman} (6:01)

9. You Are My Sunshine {Traditional} (1:17)

Credits:

Producer - David Liebman

Executive Producer - Flavio Bonandrini

Engineer - Kent Heckman

Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone at Phonocomp, Tribiano, Milano

Photography - Caris Visentin Liebman

Art Cover - Maria Bonandrini

Liner Notes - Dave Liebman, Bethann Hatfield

Dave says he doesn't welcome new musicians in the tribe until they have been at it for about 10 years. Talent is not all that counts in this genre, although it's paramount. You have to make it work financially, and get used to traveling for 20 hours to experience two on stage. The audiences are not as large as with other styles and the money doesn't always match the level of sacrifice and expertise required. But if you can withstand the pressure you earn your ranks among fellow musicians, Dave explains. This doesn't mean that he is not paying attention to new talent. He acknowledges that the best indications of someone's personality is often found in their early records. ~ Milton D. Carrero, The Morning Call.

Billy Harper Quintet - In Europe (1979) [re-rip]

Billy Harper is a huge exponent of what is termed ‘Spiritual Jazz’ and here we have one of his albums which demonstrates a clear and powerful example of that style. Harper is an exemplary saxophone player with an extremely full and warm tone, somewhat in the vein of Coltrane, but also in a league of his own and noted for his fierce soloing verging on Free Jazz. This LP was recorded and released on the unique Italian Soul Note label. At that time Billy was in Europe with his quintet and producer Giovanni Bonondrini seized the opportunity to grab some of that repertoire emanating from his 1979 tour. The listener is treated to three tunes all composed by Billy and delivered with amazing energy by Harper as a leader of a phenomenal quintet. It consists of Billy on tenor, Everett Hollins on trumpet, Fred Hersch on piano, Louis "Mbiki" Spears on bass and Horacee Arnold on Drums. The group as a whole seamlessly merges together exuding a deep and rich soulful sound. The first track ‘Priestess’ is a thriller from start to finish. It starts so serenely with an effortless solo from Fred Hersch’s soulful piano, building with bass lines from Mbiki Spears and the crashing drums of Horacee Arnold, and then joining together Harper and trumpeter Everett Hollins. The next tune ‘Calvary starts with Spears’ bass and is more uptempo with rest of the group joining with some great interchanging solos, again just as awesome. The final track ‘Illumination’ takes up the whole of side B is an epic tune truly showcasing some fantastic duo work between Harper and Arnold with Harper and Hollins holding down the basic melody; the coda is progressively built and gently finished off at the end. Overall this album exposes a brilliant ensemble sound and is an essential LP for any Billy Harper devotee, Enjoy!

Soul Note, SN 1001, 1979

Recorded 24^th & 25^th January, 1979 at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy

Personnel:

Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone

Everett Hollins - Trumpet

Fred Hersch - Piano

Louis "Mbiki" Spears - Bass

Horacee Arnold - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Priestess (13:06)

A2. Calvary (7:21)

B. Illumination (21:44)

All Compositions by Billy Harper

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonondrini

Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi

Photography - Fabio Traves & Mici Toniele

Cover Art - Francesco Gregoricchio

Tiziana Ghiglioni, Enrico Rava, Mal Waldron - I'll Be Around (1989)

Not many singers could pull off the kind of vulnerable, open-armed performance Tiziana Ghiglioni does on this wonderful collection of ballads. Maybe Sheila Jordan or Helen Merrill or Chet Baker when he was young. Fragile, brave, backed only by the spare piano of Mal Waldron and the trumpet of Enrico Rava, Ghiglioni gets the most out of understatement, which is a true art. ~ by Jack Fuller, Chicago Tribune.

"Music this intimate and emotionally naked is seldom risked; it's safer to show off techinique than to expose feelings.  Ghiglioni, Rava, and Waldron shed light on the dark corners of the soul, with music that is beautifully bittersweet." ~ from Liner Notes by Art Lange.

Soul Note, 121256-2, 1991

Recorded 25^th July & 1^st August, 1989 At Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy

Personnel:

Tiziana Ghiglioni - Vocals

Enrico Rava - Trumpet

Mal Waldron - Piano

Tracks:

01. Am I Blue? {Harry Akst, Grant Clarke} (6:15)

02. They Can't Take That Away From Me {George & Ira Gershwin} (5:14)

03. You Don't Know What Love Is {Gene DePaul, Don Raye} (7:18)

04. All Or Nothing At All {Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence} (3:22)

05. Glad To Be Unhappy {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:16)

06. I'll Be Around {Alec Wilder} (2:49)

07. Yesterdays {Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach} (2:23)

08. Where Are You? {Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh} (4:16)

09. Darn That Dream {Edgar De Lange, Jimmy Van Heusen} (5:43)

10. But Not For Me {George & Ira Gershwin} (2:09)

Credits:

Recording Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi

Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone (Phonocomp, Tribano, Milano)

Cover Painting - Giuliano Crivelli

Photo [Tiziana Ghiglioni, Enrico Rava] - Lidia Panizzut

Photo [Mal Waldron] - Brian McMillen

Cover Art by Xerios and Paola Bianchi

Liner Notes - Art Lange 

----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

It is an intimate album, modest in its pretensions and great in its results. It consists of ten standards with cause. That is, immortal. And it is delightful to hear Tiziana's nuanced voice, accompanied by the minimalists Rava and Waldron, fortunately two declared enemies of artificiality and pyrotechnics. There is a splendid version of "Am I Blue?", The best I've ever heard (along with Charlie Rich in "Pictures And Paintings" and Ray Charles in "Modern Sounds in Country & Western"), but I also love the light of "They Can not Take That Away From Me".

Neither are the melancholy interpretation of "Where Are You?" And "Darn That Dream" (yes, with the inevitable shadow of Sinatra gravitating around). Less I like the somewhat accelerated, in my opinion, of "All Or Nothing At All". And there is still the title track, "I'll Be Around," by Alec Wilder, which Carmen McRae will take to infinity. And the mere mention of such a singer already gives an idea of the category that Tiziana Ghiglioni has.

And there is place, for solo performances like Waldron's exciting "Glad To Be Unhappy" and Rava's nude and cutting of "Yesterdays". And also duos like the ghostly, black film, Rava and Waldron of "You Do not Know What Is Love Is", daquí stripped of a certain mellow of other versions. The "But Not For Me" by Tiziana and Enrico is also comforting.

In short, a very content album, very pleasant; that yes, not to listen in any way, but with the due attention that simple things require, those that we neglect daily, and that, nevertheless, form an important part of life precisely because of their vocation of transcendence, because it is the reverse of the bombast with which so many musical, literary or cinematographic works are undertaken. A blessing in these times. ~ dorotea, RYM.