[TR24][OF] Stefano Bollani Trio - Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic VIII: Mediterraneo - 2017 (Contemporary Jazz)

Orchestrated by Siggi Loch, producer and founder of the ACT label, the Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic cycle sounds very much like it’s Europe getting up on the world stage. Most of all, it’s a way to remind us of the many contributions made to jazz by the music of the Old Continent. After the aptly-named Celtic Roots and Norwegian Woods, this opus drops anchor in Italy, the birthplace to so much European music. From Vivaldi to Nino Rota to put it (very) briefly, the list is endless. This Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic concert is driven by Stefano Bollani. The great Milanese pianist is a rhythmic and harmonic acrobat, an esthete juggling with poetry and humor. However, he’s everything but a circus freak… His style is multifaceted, of a joyous generosity for the listener, and within the space of a single minute he is able to build bridges between Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, Bill Evans and Art Tatum... With Mediterraneo, Bollani proposes a journey across all the musical regions of his native land, and the repertoire offered goes from Monteverdi to Rota, Morricone, Puccini, Rossini and even Adriano Celentano! Assisted by the Danes Jesper Bodilsen on double bass and Morten Lund on drums, by Vincent Peirani from Nice on accordion and above all by fourteen musicians from the Berliner Philharmoniker, he shapes an invigorating symphony that is superbly arranged.
© CM/Qobuz