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Michael Ragonese: Stracci
ByRagonese's musical backstory is a common one. He began in classical studies and after a time felt constrained. He was introduced to jazz via a Bill Evans albumno better place to startand he switched his focus.
Stracci reveals not so much an Evans influence as it does, compositionally, a Brad Mehldau one. Ragonese wrote six of the eight tunes presented here, and they all have beguiling prettiness combined with an assertive rhythmic insistence. They seem to avoid any customary song form and are a bit on the abstract side while remaining accessible. "Escape" is the first of these. The trio, with Mark Ferber drumming and Luca Alemanno playing bass, goes beyond accompaniment with their strong voices, a piano trio mode which began with Bill Evans, and is carried on by Mehldau. And Michael Ragonese.
The album opens with one of its two covers, the familiar "Solar," performed most famously by Miles Davis, and also covered by Evans and Mehdau. Ragonese and company put their own stamp on the tune. It is a piece which has sounded modern since the early '50s. It still does here.
"The Tides Of Tomorrow, Parts 1 & 2" are a suite, played together in his live shows. "Part 1" sounds solemn; "Part 2" is dark-hued and urgent, like the soundtrack to a day of a disturbing experience. "I'll Be Seeing You," the second of the album's covers, is played straight and spritely and gives bassist Alemanno some room to strut his stuff.
Ragonese closes with his "Copycat," sounding as modern as "Solar," the opener; a fine close to a fine piano trio outing.
Track Listing
Solar; Escape; In Attesa; Ties Of Tomorrow Pt.1; Tides Of Tomorrow Pt.2; La Pioggia; I'll Be Seeing You; Copycat.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Stracci | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Michael Ragonese
Album Review
Dan McClenaghan
Mouthpiece Music
Stracci
Self Produced
Brad Melhdau
Mark Feber
Luca Alemanno
Miles Davis