Pino Daniele
Live@RTSI

I found myself dusting off this old CD/DVD a few weeks ago, after many years.

Foreword: with this review I simply want, in my small way, to pay homage to one of the greatest Italian musicians and songwriters of all time; lately too often rejected and criticized for various reasons on which I will not dwell, because we must never forget what Pino Daniele produced in his best years. Among them I rightfully include this performance.

This is specifically a mini box set CD+DVD released in 2001, but it documents the concert that Pino held at RTSI - Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana - in the early months of '83; a common thing among the greats of Italian music who all eventually passed through there. The band is the historic and most beloved one, although it lacks Senese on sax who, just for that occasion, was replaced by the excellent Elia Rosa. Ideally, this work represents the perfect complement to the celebrated "Sciò" of '84, for anyone who wants the most complete testimony possible of the artist's greatness live during his best period.

From the first "Ce Sta Chi Ce Penza", through "Je So' Pazzo", "Tarumbò", the fantastic "Napule è"... to the last "Mo Basta", it is a show where for over an hour the Neapolitan singer-songwriter, together with his band, delights the audience with his music full of contaminations, Neapolitan music, blues, jazz, and classic Italian songwriting. Even if not mentioning all the pieces, there is no room for boredom or lesser moments. It suffices to say that it is music played as God commands by exquisite musicians.

One must also highlight the extraordinary "Viento E Terra", where the never excessively praised Tullio De Piscopo gives his best. In the CD, the setlist slightly varies in the order of the tracks, but it's still the same one.        

That was surely the best Pino, one of the greatest exponents of quality music in Italy. Certainly, I don't want to deny the gradual decline, more or less evident, of the national Pinone; but when I happen to rediscover these treasures of his, it makes me be only grateful to Pino, regardless of everything. After all, while acknowledging his lows and style lapses (including some embarrassing duets), very few can boast a career of only highs.    

And, in the end, I still hold him dear today. If someone like Eric Clapton invites him to his Crossroads Festival, it's not all to be discarded yet.    

"But with musica musica, I'll be behind you. With the musica musica, I can also say no to you. For the musica musica, how much I've cried I don't know. But the musica musica, is all I have..."