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Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.
It's Christmas Again
So, we've got our usual group of holiday favorites. But wait! There's more. We've got a new Eight Track Christmas from guitarist Dave Stryker, a stupendous live Jazzy Christmas concert from trumpeter Paolo Fresu (and I mean truly stupendous! I've listened to the CD at least six times while putting this show together). And it's a Blue Note 50th anniversary of the Duke Pearson Merry Ole Soul Christmas sessions. Time to sit by the fireplace (real or virtual), nurse of ...
read moreMichael Dease's new album and a focus on Paolo Fresu
This week the exceptional new record from Michael Dease is the featured album, plus we focus on trumpeter Paolo Fresu, and spin a selection of high quality jazz music. Playlist Michael Dease “Pearls" from Bonafide (Posi-tone) 00:00 Daniel Bennett Group “Loose Fitting Spare Tire" from We Are the Orchestra (Manhatten Daylight Media) 06:08 Florian Weber “From Cousteau's Point of View" from Lucent Waters (ECM) 11:57 Giovanni Di Domenico & Abschattungen “Tugkanon & Lekton" from The Ear Cannot Be Filled WIth ...
read morePaolo Fresu: Carpe Diem
If you were somehow able to interject Miles Davis in his cool period into today's contemporary European jazz scene, you'd have to think he'd sound a lot like Paolo Fresu. But while Miles concerned himself with the sound of “urban" cool, Fresu offers a romance-infused cool. Think balcony on Mediterranean bluffs at sunset, a glass of Chianti in hand, staring deeply into the eyes of your partner, enjoying the salt air breeze wafting across your skin. This is the magic ...
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Paolo Fresu Devil Quartet: Desertico
Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu has always been more angel than devil, though he's fronted quartets that name check both of those respectively heavenly and hellish entities. His horn work is coolly lyrical and spellbinding, regardless of the setting it's found in, but Fresu also has an impish side to his personality that takes over at certain times; he taps into that deviousness in a few places on Desertico, but the majority of the music is gorgeous, reflective and peaceful.
read morePaolo Fresu: Songlines / Night & Blue
Paolo Fresu's Songlines/Night & Blue is a beautiful performance by a musician who does not feel compelled to prove himself with pyrotechnics. Instead, on this two-disc set, the Italian trumpeter prefers speaking his piece with lush melodies and a rich full horn sound, supported by an exceptional quartet. Being an Italian album, it seems appropriate to use a few musical terms. The entire affair, around 140 minutes in length, is taken sostenuto (smoothly), with a pace that slides ...
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