Cycladic Moods - CD

ENGLISH

A professional trumpet player since 1961 and an <span data-scayt_word="ENJA" data-scaytid="1">ENJA</span> recording artist since 1980, Franco <span data-scayt_word="Ambrosetti" data-scaytid="2">Ambrosetti</span> is hailed among Europe's finest jazz musicians. Starting at a young age with a first prize for trumpet at the 1966 Vienna International Jazz Competition (under the direction of Friedrich <span data-scayt_word="Gulda" data-scaytid="4">Gulda</span>), <span data-scayt_word="Ambrosetti" data-scaytid="3">Ambrosetti</span> has won a nice collection of awards in several countries. Among them "Best Record of the Year", "Best European Musician", "Best Festival Act", "Musician of the Year in Italy", "Chevalier de <span data-scayt_word="l’Académie" data-scaytid="5">l'Académie</span> <span data-scayt_word="Francaise”" data-scaytid="6">Francaise"</span>. For many years his mostly US produced recordings always joined together the best players of the New York scene (Mike <span data-scayt_word="Brecker" data-scaytid="7">Brecker</span>, Kenny Kirkland, Kenny Barron, John <span data-scayt_word="Scofield" data-scaytid="8">Scofield</span>, Geri Allen, <span data-scayt_word="Uri" data-scaytid="9">Uri</span> <span data-scayt_word="Caine" data-scaytid="10">Caine</span>, John Abercrombie to mention a few).<br /> <br /> This brand new album was recorded after a 12 concerts tour in Italy and it takes us back to glorious days in a way regarding his musical compatriots. Abraham Burton who has been featured before on three excellent <span data-scayt_word="ENJA" data-scaytid="11">ENJA</span> releases impresses with his masculine, mighty tenor sax playing, pianist Geri Allen renewed her cooperation with Franco so beautifully, <span data-scayt_word="Heiri" data-scaytid="17">Heiri</span> <span data-scayt_word="Kaenzig" data-scaytid="18">Kaenzig</span> is one of the top European bass players and drummer <span data-scayt_word="Nasheet" data-scaytid="19">Nasheet</span> Waits a modern master of his instrument. Franco's son <span data-scayt_word="Gianluca" data-scaytid="20">Gianluca</span> <span data-scayt_word="Ambrosetti" data-scaytid="12">Ambrosetti</span> presents the third generation of an incredibly musical family which began with Franco's father <span data-scayt_word="Flavio" data-scaytid="23">Flavio</span> who played excellent alto sax <span data-scayt_word="e.g" data-scaytid="14">e.g</span>. with Lionel Hampton's band. The electronically altered soprano sax on "Blues for my Friends" is <span data-scayt_word="Gianluca’s" data-scaytid="25">Gianluca's</span> invention.<br /> <br /> In recent years Franco developed his musical approach through duo work with partners like Chick <span data-scayt_word="Corea" data-scaytid="26">Corea</span> and most of all bassist <span data-scayt_word="Miroslav" data-scaytid="27">Miroslav</span> <span data-scayt_word="Vitous" data-scaytid="30">Vitous</span> substantially. "Since several years I am working intensively with <span data-scayt_word="Miroslav" data-scaytid="28">Miroslav</span> <span data-scayt_word="Vitous" data-scaytid="31">Vitous</span> whose musical conception gave me the opportunity to discover a different and surprising world. The music is approached with a concept of freedom, away from the well known orthodoxy with binding rules like the traditional sequence of theme, solos and final theme. We disregard bar lines and go for free improvisation on simple, mostly modal changes but respect one essential condition ' to listen carefully to each other and picking up suggestions where ever they come <span data-scayt_word="from.”" data-scaytid="15">from."</span><br /> <br /> A case in point is the extended, long improvisation on <span data-scayt_word="Miroslav" data-scaytid="29">Miroslav</span> <span data-scayt_word="Vitous" data-scaytid="32">Vitous</span> composition <span data-scayt_word="“Mirobop”" data-scaytid="34">"Mirobop"</span> ' the players got truly carried away and developed this short composition into a 21 minute exhilarating performance.<br /> <br /> On <span data-scayt_word="Youtube" data-scaytid="35">Youtube</span> you will find a beautiful rendition of Horace Silver's classic "Peace" performed in duet by Franco <span data-scayt_word="Ambrosetti" data-scaytid="13">Ambrosetti</span> and Geri Allen at the <span data-scayt_word="Lugano" data-scaytid="36">Lugano</span> Jazz Festival shortly after the recording.<br />