VARIOUS GROUPS FROM THE ACT RECORD LABEL - Monteverdi In The Spirit Of Jazz
ACT 9838-2
Various Artists including Jan Lundgren, Richie Beirach, Michael Woolney, Gregor Heubner, Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano, and George Mraz.
It is four hundred and fifty years since the birth of the Italian composer, singer and Catholic priest Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643). He spent most of his life in Cremona near Milan and worked in the Renaissance and Baroque periods of musical development becoming a major figure within the worlds of Madrigals, Vespers and Opera. Despite his undoubted prowess in his chosen fields he became somewhat of a forgotten figure for over three centuries before falling under the critical eye of both musicologists and performers early in the nineteen hundreds. In a similar way to Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) his compositional approach had much to offer to the jazz and progressive music genres of the current age.
This compilation, another superb release from ACT, is a fine example of how Monteverdi's work translates to the somewhat minimalist style of the European contemporary jazz scene. Most of the music on offer has been previously released by the label, and it appears that the project has perhaps been inspired by Richie Beirach's 2002 trio album "Round About Monteverdi" which featured Gregor Huebner on violin and Czech bass man George Mraz. No less than five numbers from that recording are among the dozen here. Most of these are from the composers operatic output and all benefit from the sensitive low tempo delivery of the theme statements from the piano, searching violin interludes and strong double bass that ties each interpretation together so well. There is also a choral aspect to the album on three pieces, The Gustaf Sjokvist Chamber Choir adding a Cathedral like sound over Jan Lundgren' piano and the bass of Lars Danielsson on the opening cut "Se Partir Da Voi", and the superb "Singer Pur", a German classical close harmony group whose ethereal sound complements the pairing of Michael Riessler's clarinet and Vincent Courtois cello during "Amor" from the album Ah Vita before standing alone on "Si Ch Io Vorrei Morire " from the same original album. The only previously unreleased offering is from the highly rated pianist Michael Woolny with Tim Lefebvre on bass and drummer Eric Schaefer in support. Their interpretation of "Lamento d' Arianna" is both mysterious and dramatic in a way that only the great Esbjorn Svensson may have matched.
In summary this is an album of great depth and beauty, a fine tribute to the composer and a recording that many will return to time and again.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
ACT 9838-2
Various Artists including Jan Lundgren, Richie Beirach, Michael Woolney, Gregor Heubner, Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano, and George Mraz.
It is four hundred and fifty years since the birth of the Italian composer, singer and Catholic priest Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643). He spent most of his life in Cremona near Milan and worked in the Renaissance and Baroque periods of musical development becoming a major figure within the worlds of Madrigals, Vespers and Opera. Despite his undoubted prowess in his chosen fields he became somewhat of a forgotten figure for over three centuries before falling under the critical eye of both musicologists and performers early in the nineteen hundreds. In a similar way to Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) his compositional approach had much to offer to the jazz and progressive music genres of the current age.
This compilation, another superb release from ACT, is a fine example of how Monteverdi's work translates to the somewhat minimalist style of the European contemporary jazz scene. Most of the music on offer has been previously released by the label, and it appears that the project has perhaps been inspired by Richie Beirach's 2002 trio album "Round About Monteverdi" which featured Gregor Huebner on violin and Czech bass man George Mraz. No less than five numbers from that recording are among the dozen here. Most of these are from the composers operatic output and all benefit from the sensitive low tempo delivery of the theme statements from the piano, searching violin interludes and strong double bass that ties each interpretation together so well. There is also a choral aspect to the album on three pieces, The Gustaf Sjokvist Chamber Choir adding a Cathedral like sound over Jan Lundgren' piano and the bass of Lars Danielsson on the opening cut "Se Partir Da Voi", and the superb "Singer Pur", a German classical close harmony group whose ethereal sound complements the pairing of Michael Riessler's clarinet and Vincent Courtois cello during "Amor" from the album Ah Vita before standing alone on "Si Ch Io Vorrei Morire " from the same original album. The only previously unreleased offering is from the highly rated pianist Michael Woolny with Tim Lefebvre on bass and drummer Eric Schaefer in support. Their interpretation of "Lamento d' Arianna" is both mysterious and dramatic in a way that only the great Esbjorn Svensson may have matched.
In summary this is an album of great depth and beauty, a fine tribute to the composer and a recording that many will return to time and again.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
