Norberto Tamburrino: Lovely Tunes

Italian-born pianist and composer Norberto Tamburrino has always had an affinity for a primarily solo performance. Two prior albums, Deco (Splasc(h) Records, 2006) and Prisoner of the Sea (Arabesque Records, 2007), were half or mostly solo sets, while Ascoltabile Piano & Atmosphere (Art Notes Records, 2010) is an entirely solo performance of original modern compositions. With Lovely Tunes Tamburrino sticks to this successful formula playing solo for half of the album and sharing the music with bassist Francesco Mariella on the balance.

The selection of beautiful love songs provides an appropriate title for an album of six gorgeous originals and gentle interpretations of standards from Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke and Thelonious Monk, one of the pianists' major influences. Though all of the music is certainly classic jazz, there is a hint of classical music on "Impro Love," "Hidden Sensations" and "Writing A Song To Be With You," which is not surprising coming from a classically trained pianist.

Leading off with a couple of originals ("Discovering Your Secrets," "The First Day Of Love") set the stage for forty minutes of relaxing, light jazz from the tender touches of a pianist who prefers the warmth of lovely music to the heat of a swinging affair. His renditions of Porter's "Easy To Love" and Monk's classic "Ruby My Dear" are delicate intimate statements, while his own "July Bossa" provides a brief glimpse of his quick right hand approach.

A musician with a preference for the softer side of jazz, pianist Norberto Tamburrino offers a break from the boisterous horns and saxophones, and the pounding sounds of the percussive instruments, with a masterful solo piano performance of Lovely Tunes that is truly a pleasure to hear often.