ROGER BEAUJOLAIS ITALIAN TRIO - Barba Lunga
Stay Tuned ST011
Roger Beaujolais (vibraphone); Giacomo Dominici (double & electric bass); Alessandro Pivi (drums)
Recorded at Lunik Studio, Pesaro; n.d
Vibes maestro, Roger Beaujolais, has had a varied career having worked with, among others, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Kirsty MacColl, Neneh Cherry and Fairground Attraction; but it is as a jazz musician and soloist that he is held in such high esteem.
Beaujolais began releasing albums on his own Stay Tuned imprint in 1999 with an emphasis on recording in an acoustic setting. The intervening years have seen a steady stream of impressive albums, and more recently featuring more and more of Roger's own compositions. With this his twentieth studio album, Beaujolais presents his Italian Trio in a fine set of mostly original tunes, and if you are thinking that you are in for a quiet hour of gentle jazz then think again.
The trio swing hard, and attack the opening number, 'Granita For Anita' with no little aggression, driven fiercely by both drums and the electric bass of Giacomo Dominici. The mallets fly across the metal bars of the vibes in long melodic lines that truly sparkle with imagination. 'Benign Tonight' is given similar treatment, but with the bassist switching to double bass giving a different lift to the sound of the trio. Double bass is also prominent on the lovely 'Are We Yet'.
Although not written by Beaujolais, special mention should be given to 'The Wind Cries Mary' by Jimi Hendrix, bringing a skilled arranger's touch to the guitarist's rock ballad, retaining the feeling of the original and yet perfectly suited to the Italian Trio's concept and sound.
A self taught musician, Roger Beaujolais has come along way since taking up the vibraphone some forty years ago. Not only one of the leading vibes player in the UK, but also a composer of some stature as is heard on this excellent addition to his discography.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Stay Tuned ST011
Roger Beaujolais (vibraphone); Giacomo Dominici (double & electric bass); Alessandro Pivi (drums)
Recorded at Lunik Studio, Pesaro; n.d
Vibes maestro, Roger Beaujolais, has had a varied career having worked with, among others, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Kirsty MacColl, Neneh Cherry and Fairground Attraction; but it is as a jazz musician and soloist that he is held in such high esteem.
Beaujolais began releasing albums on his own Stay Tuned imprint in 1999 with an emphasis on recording in an acoustic setting. The intervening years have seen a steady stream of impressive albums, and more recently featuring more and more of Roger's own compositions. With this his twentieth studio album, Beaujolais presents his Italian Trio in a fine set of mostly original tunes, and if you are thinking that you are in for a quiet hour of gentle jazz then think again.
The trio swing hard, and attack the opening number, 'Granita For Anita' with no little aggression, driven fiercely by both drums and the electric bass of Giacomo Dominici. The mallets fly across the metal bars of the vibes in long melodic lines that truly sparkle with imagination. 'Benign Tonight' is given similar treatment, but with the bassist switching to double bass giving a different lift to the sound of the trio. Double bass is also prominent on the lovely 'Are We Yet'.
Although not written by Beaujolais, special mention should be given to 'The Wind Cries Mary' by Jimi Hendrix, bringing a skilled arranger's touch to the guitarist's rock ballad, retaining the feeling of the original and yet perfectly suited to the Italian Trio's concept and sound.
A self taught musician, Roger Beaujolais has come along way since taking up the vibraphone some forty years ago. Not only one of the leading vibes player in the UK, but also a composer of some stature as is heard on this excellent addition to his discography.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
