Jazz Articles

Cinzia_Spata: 93-03

by Jerry D'Souza
July 29, 2005

There is a wealth of jazz talent on 93-03, none less exciting than the singer and the songs. Cinzia Spata recorded pieces that were in her repertoire during the period from 1993 to 2003, hence the title of this release. That apart, Spata has a fine sense of style and articulation which come across potently and make this an accomplished recording.

Spata includes four originals as well as songs by Cole Porter, Horace Silver, and Kenny Wheeler, and ...

Cinzia Spata: 93-03

by John Kelman
July 2, 2005

With a veritable plethora of jazz singers devoting the majority of their time to endless reinterpretation of the Great American Songbook, it's refreshing to come across someone who, in addition to writing her own mainstream material, chooses to examine less-travelled sources. Italian singer Cinzia Spata may not yet be well known in North America, but by putting together a mainly American group, including pianist Marc Copland, bassist Ron McClure, and saxophonist Donny McCaslin (along with fellow Italian Marcello Pellitteri on ...

Helga Plankensteiner-Walter Civettini Quintet: Connections

by Paul Olson
January 21, 2005

Good chemistry, excellent musicianship. That's all a jazz group needs, right?Well, maybe not. The Italy-based Helga Plankensteiner-Walter Civettini Quintet--composed of Plankensteiner on alto and baritone sax, Civettini on trumpet and flugelhorn, Michael Lösch on piano and Hammond, Beppe Pilotto on bass, and Enrico Tommasini on drums--has excellent chemistry. The rhythm section's got a seamless cohesion and the co-leaders sound like born partners, each complementing the other's ideas with their own. Plankensteiner's got a sweet tone on alto (her ...