Gianni Coscia: Sigla 1950

If Gianni Coscia were Korean, he would have been declared a "Human Cultural Asset," the title bestowed upon individuals recognized for their mastery and role in preserving national culture. But he's not Korean, so he may be more accurately described as an Italian living national treasure—a poet laureate trapped in the body of an accordionist.

After a lifetime spent giving a jazz inflection to regional and popular Italian musical traditions, he has—at 94—released his first solo album, La Violetera, at the urging of Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, who issued it on his label Tuk Music.

From a recording with far too many standout tracks to choose from, here's "Sigla 1950," selected also for its symbolic resonance: a piece Coscia wrote at nineteen—distilling the dreams and imagination of a young man from provincial post—World War II Italy, eager to pursue his love of jazz without abandoning his love for the accordion. In a nutshell, everything that was to come was already there.