The album of the day: Gibellini/Tavolazzi/Beggio, “You and…”
Gibellini/Tavolazzi/Beggio
You and the Night and the Music (Cd Splash CDH 681.2)
After yesterday's decidedly challenging listening, we regain a bit of optimism and joy thanks to this amazing jazz album, unfortunately distributed in a not particularly brilliant way and not very easy to find; be patient and look for it, it is a work of absolute quality to be listened to even overseas to make many standardized American brand virtuosos die with rage.
Three very Italian musicians grappling with a repertoire that comes directly from the purest tradition of jazz, great virtuosos who never lose sight of the cohesion of the whole while giving us enthusiastic and generous solos, a swing capable of lifting you off the ground that appears since first minute of music, excellent compositions by Sandro Gibellini (guitar) and Ares Tavolazzi (double bass) such as “Ivan Bells” (anagram of which great jazz musician?…) and “Maria Grappa” alternate with famous pages such as “Jitterbug Waltz” by Fats Waller and “Just One of Those Things” by Cole Porter, in a delightful program that flows away without thoughts, distributing the desire to play and tons of energy.
Mauro Beggio is a classy musician who always travels on the wave of swing thanks to a drum kit rich in musicality and ever-changing phrasing; those who know Ares Tavolazzi only for his unforgettable experience with Area will be surprised by the absolute mastery of the jazz language and the very solid rhythmic framework that he manages to create through polychrome double bass lines.
Gibellini is one of the absolute masters of jazz guitar in the world. If he had been born in New Orleans instead of Pralboino (in the province of Brescia) he would probably have been praised on the pages of jazz magazines much more than he is now; his encyclopedic knowledge of the great jazz tradition, his perfect phrasing, impeccable from a technical and musical point of view, make him a reference figure for anyone interested in the world of jazz today.
This album communicates above all else a feeling of authentic fun, and when “Un poquito de tu amor” arrives at the end (already immortalized by Charlie Parker) you can't help but smile and take your hat off to these great musicians who don't consider the tradition like an embalmed artefact but they manage to make it fresh and vital for everyone's joy.
Carlo Boccadoro, composer and conductor, was born in Macerata in 1963. He lives and works in Milan. He collaborates with soloists and orchestras in different parts of the world. He is the author of numerous books on musical topics.
This text is taken from “Lunario della musica: A record for every day of the year” published by Einaudi, courtesy of the author and the publisher.
