Import CD – DSR 1610001 – Re:Connections – Paolo Benedettini Trio

Notes

FROM THE OPENING TRACK, ”INTRO”, YOU HEAR THE FLUID SOUNDS OF GUITARIST MARCO BOVI, WIDE USAGE OF THE PIANO CHORDS, PLAYED BY PIANIST NICO MENCI, AND THE ROBUST FLOWING SOUNDS OF THE DOUBLE BASS AS PLAYED BY LEADER AND BASSIST PAOLO BENEDETTINI. THIS LEADS TO OUR NEXT STOP IN THIS JOURNEY TO A SONG “MODES FROM D.G.”, THE FIRST SONG COMPOSED BY THEIR BASSIST, THAT HAS A TRICKY UNISON MELODY LINE PLAYED BY BASS AND GUITAR, PLAYED VERY WELL. WHICH RETURNS TO THE INTRO OF THIS SONG WITH A “BONGO” EFFECT FROM THE GUITAR… WHICH LEADS TO SOME SERIOUS SWING, LED BY MR. BOVI, FOLLOWED BY AN IMPRESSIVE PIANO SOLO… TO RETURN TO THE MELODY THEN TO THE ENDING. > THIS NEXT STOP ON THIS TOUR, IS A SONG OF ONE OUR FAVORITE STOPS, “LOVE WALKED IN” BY GEROGE GERSHWIN… I CAN HEAR THE TRIO REALLY SMILE AS THEY DEVELOP THIS SONG… WITH PAOLO LEADING THE CHARGE PLAYING THE MELODY… THEN PLAYING A “FAB” SOLO, FOLLOWED BY A PIANO SOLO THAT EQUALS THE ENTHUSIAM OF THE PREVIOUS SOLO… THENNNN, HERE COMES A EQUALLY “FAB” GUITAR SOLO, LEADING TO THE BASS PLAYING THE LAST PART OF THE MELODY, THEN A GROUP TAG TO END THIS PART OF THE TRIP. AFTER A BRIEF REST, WE GET TO HEAR AND ENJOY THE SECOND SONG BY “PB” TITLED “BURNO’S LINES”… A REALLY NICE BLUES WALTZ IN Bb THAT IS REALLY HAPPENING… WHICH LEADS US TO A GREAT GUITAR SOLO, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER GREAT PIANO SOLO… IT SHOULD BE NOTED HERE THAT THE RHYTHM, BASS LINES, AND SOUND OF THE BASS MAKES THESE WONDERFUL SOLOS POSSIBLE. THE TRIO HERE PRESENTS “COR0 A BOCCA CHIUSA” (from “MADAMA BUTTERFLY”), BY PUCCINI, AS A WONDERFUL VIEW OF THIS CLASSIC MELODY PLAYED WITH MUCH RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. > WE CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY, ENJOYING A JAZZ STANDARD, ”I CONCENTRATE ON YOU” BY COLE PORTER. HERE THE TRIO PLAYS WITH A CALM RESPECT FOR THIS BALLAD. LIMITED FIREWORKS, AND A CAREFUL HANDLING OF THE CHANGES AND MELODY ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY WITH THIS MELODY AND THE TRIO RESPONDS PERFRCTLY! NEXT STOP… ”HINDSIGHT”… HERE WE HAVE A NEW TRIO SOUND, THAT OF THE MELODY AND SOLO ON A RHODES ELECTRIC PIANO. THIS NEW SONIC SOUND IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE TRIO… AND FOR THE NEXT 3:57 MINUTES I’M SURE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY HEARING THEM MEETING THIS CHALLENGE… AND HEARING THAT THEY FIND SOME WONDERFUL SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES. > NEXT STOP PROVIDES US A CHANCE TO HEAR PAOLO IN A BASS INTERLUDE (”FANTASY IN D”). WITH HIS WONDERFUL SOUND AND CAREFUL CHOICE OF NOTES,HE TRANSPORTS US INTO OUR NEXT STOP ON THIS MUSICAL JOURNEY… WHICH LEADS US TO THE CEDAR WALTON COMPOSITION “MARTHA’S PRIZE”. THIS TRIO ARRANGEMENT HAS PERFECTLY FRAMED THIS GUITAR SOLO. HEAR HOW HE IS ABLE TO PLAY IN AND AROUND THIS ARRANGEMENT… WONDERFUL!! AND HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE TRIO’S VIEW OF A WELL KNOWN OPERA PIECE, “ENTR’ACTE I” (FROM “CARMEN”) BY GEORGES BIZET… PLEASE NOTE THE VERY INTERESTING BASS LINES THAT ARE PLAYED DURING THIS VIEW. ”FAB”. WHICH TAKES US, ON THIS JOURNEY, TO A BRAZILIAN STANDARD, ”CHOVENDO NA ROSEIRA” BY A.C. JOBIM… I’VE HEARD THIS SONG AT A FASTER TEMPO… AND I FOUND MYSELF PLAYING THIS VERSION AGAIN AND AGAIN, ENJOYING IT MORE WITH EACH LISTENING; YOUR THOUGHTS? > ANDDDD, HERE WE ARE… LAST STOP ON OUR MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH TPBT TRIO… NOW LET THIS VERSION OF “FOR TODDLERS ONLY” KNOCK YOU OUT… IT DID ME!! — HUGZZ, RON CARTER