CD/LP/Track Review
Tonolo/Goldstein/Birro/Ciancaglini: Farfalle (2003)
Glenn Astarita
Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.
The latest release from Italy’s EGEA Records is filed under the label’s Mediterranean Collection, ordinarily featuring the crème de la crème of the nation’s top modern jazz musicians. But every so often they garner the services of an American artist, evidenced here by the appearance of pianist Gil Goldstein, performing solely on accordion.
Goldstein and saxophonist Pietro Tonolo coalesce for a series of delicately enacted melodies, marked by gracefully executed themes. A crystalline audio production embellishes the soloists’ melodic lyricism, augmented by pianist Paolo Birro and bassist Pietro Ciancaglini’s sympathetic support. The music breathes a refreshing sense of enlivenment and celebration, in a quiet sort of way.
The quartet paints lucid tone poems atop Mediterranean drenched motifs amid wistful lines and sparkling interplay. In fact, the music takes on a rather fragile appearance. You won’t find any filler material, as the artists intermix jazzy soloing with a sunny outlook, befitting the implications of what this record label is about. Recommended...
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Track Listing: 1.Farfalla 2.Barchesse 3.The Phoenicians 4.Nivasio 5.Panetelas 6.Perugia 7.Arco
Personnel: Pietro Tonolo: saxes
Record Label: Egea Records | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
