QUARTETTO DI LUCCA - 4 QUARTETTO
It is
quite rare to discover on the Italian Jazz scene a successful ensemble, which
passed unscathed through years. Bands are usually weakened or put in crisis,
most of the times caused by sudden changes in line-ups. The Quartetto di Lucca
is a band of young players which formerly were part of the amateurial Hot Clubs
and some years ago debuted among the pros. The quartet of Lucca, however, has a
peculiarity of its own, the ability to defend the results and the continuity of
a fruitful collaboration with a compromise: the pure jazz calling, more
congenial and relevant to the quartet, is flanked by a more pop concert
activity with the specific aim of ensuring the survival of the first through
the latter. The band was born as a quintet at the end of 1957, with the actual
members accompanied by the guitarist Gaetano Mariani, who left the ensemble in
the summer of 1961. 1958 had seen their official debut in Rome at Quirino
Theatre, in occasion of a contest reserved to rising Jazz stars in which they
were awarded first prize. A few months later, they recorded their first album
as a quintet for RCA Italy. It was the birth of a fruitful collaboration, which
still lasts. Between 1958 and 1959 the quintet toured extensively; in 1959 the
famous venue Il Bussolotto, located on the wonderful coast of Tuscany, hired
them to play among the finest Italian jazzmen and in that occasion they had
been chosen to support the second tour Chet Baker did in Italy. The band had
the opportunity to play for six months in the USA, a period in which they could
listen to American musicians in their environment and discover the latest
trends. Once back in Italy, bassist Giovanni Tommaso and vibraphonist Antonello
Vannucchi took part independently in countless gigs and played with
international artists like John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Chet Baker, Buddy
Collette, Bobby Jaspar and René Thomas. This experience was vital for the
ensemble, which came back on stage invigorated in the summer of 1961. The Jazz
Cup award, the most important radio show organised by RAI (Italian national
radio and television) was their crowning moment. ~ Amazon.com
GIANNI ODDI - STYLE
Like
Richard Olivers Dicky Oliver, Style was an LP released on the RCA Italy
catalogue. Style, is an extremely rare album which was not conceived for sale
but for synchronisation purpose only. This was quite common at those times,
with many labels producing music for film, radio and tv and consequently
pressing limited quantities of wax, which became rapidly collectible. Popoff is
a superb example of italian 70s Jazz Funk infused with a characteristic
Progressive flavour, which was a trending genre at that time. Among the eleven
tracks of the LP Notte a Bagdad and Kimono Pop present wicked grooves and
evocative atmospheres Originally released in 1974 now this highly sought-after
title is again available on Schema Easy Series. ~ Amazon.com
ANDREAS VARADY - ANDREAS VARADY
Varady
blends the accomplished technique of Wes Montgomery, soulful voicing of George
Benson and Gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt. While he started absorbing these
masters from his parents record collection, he also has a fresh view on their
legacy.
I always
knew that I was slightly different than other people, Varady said from his
family s home in Limerick, Ireland. Not that I was better, but just slightly
different. When I was 12, the kids at my school were into casual things, and I
was into way different things. This
guitarist also stands out from many veteran musicians. Guitar Player put Varady
on its cover in 2012 and that summer he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival
in front the festival s legendary founder, the late Claude Nobs, and world
renowned producer Quincy Jones, who has since taken Varady on as a protégé. Andreas
is the complete package, Jones said. He s a 360-degree musician whose knowledge
and appreciation for all genres from jazz and hip-hop to rock and pop can be
felt in his music. ~ Amazon.com
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