Jazz Live in Europe: David Murray Cuban Ensemble in Tour.

David Murray and his Cuban Ensemble are traveling 'round Europe with his original project Nat King Cole in Espanol, a personal reading of musics taken from two albums that the singer recorded in Spanish and Portuguese in 1958 and 1962, performing melodies from Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. From the project was also taken in 2010 an intesting album.

Last december at Salle Pleyel in Paris he had as special guest the old cuban singer Omara Portuondo in an exclusive exibition. Here some videos of that evening

In july Murray performed an interesting concert at wonderful Teatro Romano in Verona, and the jazz blogger INCOSTANT SOL posted an unissued recording of that concert that you can find here.

Italian Jazz: Aldo Romano, Danilo Rea, Rosario Bonaccorso Live in France (2011)

Three italian great artists together for an excellent concert July 22, 2011 at Jazz Festival in Porquerolles (France). In the program the group is presented as "The Italian Jazz Dream Team".

The drummer Aldo Romano is well known for his collaboration with many international jazz stars as Dexter Gordon, Michel Petrucciani, Johnny Griffin, Keith Jarrett and many others.

Here you can see his Flower Power Trio with the french pianist Baptiste Trotignon and Rosario Bonaccorso at Festival of Jazz & Wine of Peace in Cormons (Italy), 2010, Octobet 22.

Danilo Rea is one of the best italian jazz pianists and played with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Joe Scofield and many others.

In the following video a solo piano concert at Umbria Jazz 2008

The bassist Rosario Bonaccorso well known also out of Italy played with Pat Metheny, Elvin Jones, Benny Golson and others.

In the following video you can appreciate him also as leader of his quartet with Andy Gravish (tr), Andrea Pozza (piano) and Nicola Angelucci (drm).

Here below the link to see the whole concert

Aldo Romano, Danilo Rea et Rosario Bonnacorso au festival Jazz à Porquerolles:

"Estate" the most well known italian jazz standard

The italian piano player, singer and composer Bruno Martino wrote the pop song "Estate" (Summer) with text of Bruno Brighetti in 1960.

In the following video the original version.

The brasilian singer Joao Gilberto, during a tournée in Italy heard it and decided to include the song in his repertoire and also recorded it in italian.

From that moment the song became famous and was played and sung by many important jazz artists as Chet Baker, here "At Capolinea" (Milan-Italy) 1983 with Nicola Stilo (fl), Diane Varvra (s. sax), Michel Grailler (pf), Riccardo Dal Frà (bs), Leo Mitchel (drm).

Michel Petrucciani, at Umbria Jazz Perugia-Italy in 1995

Shirley Horn and many others.

After 50 years this song is played and recorded by many artists all over the world. Here a french version of Claude Nougaro

and an italian version by the jazz trumpet player Fabrizio Bosso and the singer and piano player Sergio Cammeriere.

Jazz in Italy: Phil Woods meets the italian Big Bang orchestra (1988)

In July 1988, during Umbria Jazz Festival, Phil Woods was playing in a club and the Big Bang orchestra directed by Mario Raja, including some of the best young italian jazz players, had a concert at Morlacchi Theatre the 15th evening. Thanks to Paolo Piangiarelli, of Philology Records, the day after Phil accepted to be guest for the fist album of the orchestra.

Personnel:

Phil Woods (clarinet, alto saxophone);

Marco Rinalduzzi (guitar);

Giancarlo Maurino (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone);

Mario Raja (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone);

Maurizio Giammarco (tenor saxophone);

Roberto Ottini (baritone saxophone);

Flavio Boltro, Marco Tamburini, Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn);

Danilo Terenzi, Hal Crook, Roberto Rossi (trombone);

Danilo Rea (keyboards);

Enzo Pietropaoli (bass)

Roberto Gatto (drums).

NEW LINK

Jazz Live in Europe: Michel Petrucciani at Jazzgipfel Stuttgart 1993

During his european 1993 tornée, july 2nd Petrucciani had an excellent concert in Stuttgart. In the followings video two ellingtonians tracks sublimely performed that, probably, Duke would have liked.

Jazz Live in Italy: Earl Hines Piano solo Concert in Scandiano 1966

After some months I'm back with a rare, old LP of piano solo by the "piano giant" Earl "Fatha" Hines (1903-1983).

foto by Roberto Polillo

At the beginning of the 1966 Hines was in Italy for about more than one month, playing in a night club in Rome, after he went in Milan for some other dates. On the road he stopped in Scandiano, a little town near Reggio Emilia, where he performed a beautiful concert.

That concert was published in LP some years after (I bought it about 40 years ago) and never reissued in CD.

Link

Remembering George Shearing (1919-2011)

One of the world's most influential and beloved jazz pianists and composers, Sir George Shearing, died shortly after 1:00 a.m. monday 14th of cardiac arrest. Shearing was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2006. A popular recording artist and concert performer, Shearing composed over 300 songs including the jazz standard "Lullaby of Birdland".

To remember this great british artist here his first live album recorded in 1958 with a quintet including a young Jean Thielemans not yet known as "Toots".

Personnel

George Shearing - p,

Emil Richards - vibes,

Jean Thielemans - g, harm.

Al McKibbon - b,

Percy Brice - dr,

Armando Perazzo - perc.

recorded at Claremont College (CA)

August 03, 1958

LINK