Roberto Magris: Need to Bring Out Love

Italian jazz pianist and maestro Roberto Magris follows up his highly-regarded Enigmatix (JMood Records, 2015) with the sequel Need to Bring Out Love delivering the same type of modern-styled contemporary sound that made the first album, so enticing. Known as a proponent of the straight ahead mainstream side of jazz and a lover of the standards, Magris shifted gears on the first recording deciding to showcase his talents as a composer by offering fresh new charts. On this sensational sequel, with the exception of two covers—one from the late pianist and composer Don Gabriel Pullen and the other from singer/band leader Billy Eckstine—the pianist once again presents a repertoire of new dynamic original music that's hard to ignore.

As the musical director of the Kansas City-based JMood Records label, Magris often produces new albums within the area as he has done on this project. Accordingly, as with the first of this two-part series, the players are drawn from the rich talent pool to be found in Kansas City's vibrant jazz scene. Reuniting with Magris on this second album are bassist Dominique Sanders and drummer Brian Steever comprising the core trio format for the recording. There are three vocals tracks where vocalist Monique Danielle—who appeared on Enigmatix—also returns on the light and emotional "Together In Love" while Julia Haile, the singer for the Kansas City 'Super group,' The Buhs, provides the vocals on Eckstine's classic "I Want To Talk About You" and the upbeat and lively title track.

Opening the session is an original from the artists entitled "Out There Somewhere" featuring pounding drums, a steady strong bass line with the kind of superb right-hand solo work on the keys that Magris is so clearly associated with. The trio takes on their first cover tune on "Joycie Girl" laying down one impressive treatment of the standard complete with dicey improvisation from the pianist. Injecting a bit of the blues on this date, the Magris original "Swami Blues" captures some of the pianist's best solo moments demonstrating his enormous skills on the instrument with a standout performance that blows the house down.

Displaying a softer side of his music, the piano master tones it down by delivering a melodic and mellow piece of music on the delicate "Candlewood Dreams" followed by the more energetic and assertive "What Love," accompanied well by strong bass and drum work in a tune where all the players let it all hang out in a track that helps define the band as world-class.

As sequels go, Need to Bring Out Love brings out all the musical love one needs to hear with the same electrifying and swinging excitement as the first album. The music and performance found here, serve as yet another vehicle for the immeasurable skills and talents of pianist and composer Roberto Magris undeniably, one of the finest piano players on the planet.