United Jazz Artists
United Jazz Artists

Not long ago, an article appeared in a newspaper talking about the resurgence of "artistic" salons in Milan and Rome. Places for gatherings, cultural exchanges, and in many cases, the renaissance of the arts.
Just like during the Renaissance and even later, they served as the forge where great artists from past eras—painters, writers, and musicians—found recognition. It's precisely the latter group I wish to discuss.
Among the various lounges in the Lombard capital, one particularly active, well-attended, and known for its genuine hospitality, led to a project that culminated in the production of a CD and a show featuring eleven Milanese jazz groups. The project of Gabriella Niccolai.

This is how the CD United Jazz Artists of Milan was born, an experiment that, despite the stylistic differences and the multi-colored sound of the 37 participating musicians, sounds consistently homogeneous between cool jazz and bop, even touching on free, as if from a single birth.

Recorded in analog at the Milanese studios of Murec Studio by Paolo Falascone, a studio where Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Enrico Rava, and many other great jazz musicians have recorded, it is published by the record label Italian Way Music.

http://www.italianwaymusic.com/en/jazz/united-jazz-artists

Listening to the CD:

1. Softly as a morning sunrise (Romberg) - Gioel Severini Trio
The beautiful opening with the double bass by Roberto Agostinelli immediately captivates you with its energy, but before you know it, the sax of Gioel Severini (a young talent to remember) surprises and envelops you with its confident and captivating phrasing. A standard, yet approached in a sublime and original manner.

2. Per Carla (Tognoli) - Progressive Jazz Quartet
This piece written by the group's saxophonist is infinitely sweet and cannot fail to immediately captivate the listener. A ballad full of feeling and played with great passion. Tognoli also has a beautiful instrumental voice, unsurprisingly known since the 60s.

3. Sometime ago (Mihanovich) - Di Virgilio/Sala Quartet
Listening to this standard gives the impression of listening to a famous group. They have nothing to envy in terms of sonority, skill, and swing, thanks to the piano of Leonardo di Virgilio and Alexandre Sabina, a student of the great saxophonist Michele Bozza.

4. Allippando (Daloiso/Cerra) - Celada Trio
Strange sounds for this trio, a cross between the sound of Pat Metheny and something more Mediterranean, almost Neapolitan. Indefinable, but undoubtedly captures you on a second listen, leaving the melody stuck in your head.

5. A night in Tunisia (Gillespie) - Jazz for You
Beautiful version of this well-known standard. The peculiarity lies in the fact that it is usually instrumental, but here it is sung by the beautiful voice of Emanuela Villa.

6. Song for Viky (Di Serio) - Just ‘n time
Another original and very sweet piece, where Bodini's trumpet blends perfectly with Cabrini's dark sax in a very beautiful overall sound for the whole group. Sound that vaguely recalls the 60s.

7. Never alone Melita (Fait) - Fait Club Quintet
Original piece from the project's artistic director, simple melody but remains indelible thanks to Stefano Sernagiotto's sax. Swing that gets you, envelops you, and makes you move. A video of the CD was also made from this piece.

8. No More (Crucitti-Cavenati-Dassi-Tosi) - Pos
Very original piece for its sound and melodic research, relentless rhythm. Not an easily assimilable piece.

9. Beautiful love (Young) - DF meets Dynamic Quartet
Here the voice of Daniela Ferrari emerges in all its majesty even if the piece doesn't challenge her vocal qualities. Pleasant version of a very beautiful piece.

10. O sole mio (Di Capua) - 3pm Jazz Trio
For this world-renowned piece made in hundreds of versions, it truly deserves applause. Original, funny, fresh, and jazzy. Excellent arrangement by Paolo Manasse.

11. Reflections (Monk) - DUO Quartet
Here too, Marco Ilari's guitar superbly accompanies singer Lorenzini. But it must be said that perhaps this piece is better in its instrumental version. Despite the performers' skill, this track doesn't convince or move me.

12. Voyage (Barron) - Just ‘n time
Fabulous piece by Barron, played excellently again by the quintet. Beautiful, enjoyable, highly listenable.

13. Nothing else (Fait-Mena) - Fait Club Quintet
Beautiful theme, the only bossanova on the CD. It's a shame that the group here seems somewhat uncoordinated, unsure, and uncertain in some passages. Incredibly, it remains pleasant to listen to.

14. Blues criminal (Di Virgilio) - Di Virgilio/Sala Quartet
This theme is also fabulous, worthy of an overseas jazz standard. Impeccable execution.

15. Inside (Crucitti-Cavenati-Dassi-Tosi) - Pos
Very original and peculiar piece in its development, finally a soprano sax, that of Sergio Crucitti.

16. Humpty dumpty (Corea) - Progressive Jazz Quartet
Difficult and beautiful piece by Corea, played well here, but with some uncertainty, perhaps too fast...

17. Oleo (Rollins) - Gioel Severini Trio
A classic by Sonny Rollins, perhaps a piece not very accessible and not very melodious, more made to showcase technical skill rather than anything else. Well, here Gioel succeeded. Bravo.

18. 2012 (Fait) - Di Virgilio/Sala Quartet
This is the only free piece on the CD, it seems more like a joke, a mockery. Perhaps like many who rushed to speak of the end of the world on December 12, 2012, without too much reason.


Ultimately, even if not everything is perfect, a great CD, to be listened to and listened to again. One of the most beautiful Italian jazz compilations (though there are few).