Balan: More

During the Swinging Sixties, the most respected Italian composers and performers found work recording the prettier reflections of what was then the in sound. Despite extensive jazz backgrounds and advanced musical educations, these musicians were reduced to simply saying what people wanted to hear. It was in films that such Italian maestros as Ennio Morricone, Piero Umiliani, Piero Piccioni and Bruno Niccolai often found their most creative release. They could be creative, and still give the people what they want. Turns out their individual talents and interests imbued the music with something special - even worthwhile - that, much to everyone's surprise, has made it relevant and helped it to endure. A new generation of musicians, having grown up to this music, now pay their respects to this music and offer such perfectly sweet tributes as Balanço's More.

Balanço is a fine trio led by Mariella Carbonara's wordless vocalese (which carries all the melodies), Pippo Lombardo's imaginative arsenal of keyboard sounds and David Penta's easy-grooving bass. Nicola Conte's skillful production makes you think you're hearing an entire orchestra. But More offers one of Italy's most notable lounge jazz bands performing a wide variety of intriguing music from the golden age of the Italian soundtrack era. More, Balanço's most recent album, shows a band with great confidence and taste: from Morricone's classic Metti Una Sera A Cena (aka Love Circle, the 1969 film written by Dario Argento) to Riz Ortolani's popular " More," the theme from the first-ever mondo film, Mondo Cane. Everything here screams "swinging sixties," with Carbonara's tantalizing and hypnotizing vocalese floating effortlessly throughout. It's as breezy and light as Lounge style can be. But it's a perfect cocktail for a new generation which enjoys the melodic side of some of this century's most notable composers.

Songs:More; Bossa Memorandum; Cocktail con Laura; Cuori Solitari; The Bachelor Waltz; A Man and A Woman; Un Posto Per Me; Intrigo A Francoforte; Mrs. Beat; The Girl From Montenegro; A Day In The Life Of Fool; Dreamflight; Nesson Dolore; Metti Una Sera A Cena/Fez Remix; Metti Una Sera A Cena/Jazzanova Remix.

Players:Mariella Carbonara: lead vocal; Pippo Lombardo: piano, organ, harpsichord and keyboards; David Penta: Fender bass.