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Rating: This mini interview came about almost as a joke a few weeks ago while I was busy writing the review of Småt Småt, the latest album by Stefano Bollani. Being engaged in numerous concerts, I did not think, in fact, that Bollani would answer me. Sometimes, it's nice to be wrong, even though I realized that conducting an interview without feedback (forgive the horrible term) is not easy at all.
Hi Stefano, first of all, where are you now and what are you doing?
I'm finally at home for a few days, but I'm about to leave for New York where I'll be playing for six days at the Blue Note, the first part of the evening solo, the second within Enrico Rava's quintet.
Can you briefly tell us how the idea for an album like Småt Småt came about?
Lately, I have often performed solo concerts. Additionally, while recording the music for a theatrical show (David Riondino's living nativity scene with singers), I enjoyed overdubbing multiple pianos, and I decided to try "playing" with myself in this Småt Småt. Only at the end of the recording did I realize that the pieces were all quite short, song-form. That's why I wanted to call it "small small" and in Danish it sounded good, it sounded playful.
What music are you listening to these days?
Anything and everything, as always. The common denominator is quality. I'm particularly in awe now of a live album by pianist Earl Hines.
Which artists have most influenced you?
There are many, not just pianists like Bill Evans or Art Tatum... ethically, I think the example of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa is still enlightening for me: artists who have always sought new stimuli, without becoming stagnant.
Will we eventually get to see your solo piano concert?
Definitely. In Sassari, for example, I should be there on February 28. But I'm often traveling, and my "break" periods are really very brief.
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