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A classic session of Italian modernist jazz – led by bassist Giorgio Azzolini, and featuring searing trumpet work by Enrico Rava! Pianist Franco D'Andrea and drummer Aldo Romano complete the group – and the tracks show a definite influence of the free jazz stylings that were sweeping Europe during the late 60s, but still keep one foot firmly planted in a swinging jazz tradition – which means that the solos have plenty of sharp edges, while the band still manages to groove nicely!. Lovingly repackaged by the Rearward label – and including the tracks "Israel", "Beyond The Corner", "Crucial Moment", and "Free Duet".

A lost Italian gem from the 60s! Bassist Giorgio Azzolini was one of Italy's best players during the postwar years, and this handsome reissue brings to light one of his rarer sessions from the 60s. The record's a lyrical septet session, with Azzolini's warm round basslines right up front, and beautiful solo work by a young Gato Barbieri on tenor, Franco Ambrosetti on trumpet, and Renato Sellani on piano. The session has the warmth and sensitivity of some of Horace Silver's best early 60's Blue Note work, and the tracks include "Tribute To Someone" by Herbie Hancock, "Sometime Ago" by Sergio Mihanovic, "The Stroller" by Benny Golson, and "Hiroshima" by Gato Barbieri. Very nice stuff – and with the usual high level of Rearward packaging!

Beautiful work from pianist Guido Manusardi – a player who's best known for his work on the Italian scene, but who's heard here in a rare gem from Romania! The style of the work is quite similar to some of Guido's Italian work, but there's a nicely balanced feeling too – a sense of sadness and languid energy that's a nice balance to some of Manusardi's freer energy too – a quality that really makes this album as essential as any of his Italian releases. Guido plays both electric and acoustic piano on the record – and other players include Giorgio Azzolini on bass, Tullio De Piscopo on drums, and Sergio Fanni on trumpet and a bit of strings – working together in the manner of some of the best albums on the Dire label, with all the undercurrent of darkness that reference might imply. Titles include "Murmurul Izvoarelor", "Valea Oltului", "Tandarica", "Prin Ceata", and "Sfirsit De Saptamina".

A masterpiece of obscure jazzy groovers – the excellent 2nd entry in the Tempo Jazz series, and every bit as wonderful and eye-opening as the first! The vibe is incredible – soulful, spiritual, and free-thinking – with just the right touches of modernism to keep things sharp, but enough of an emphasis on the groove to help a few of these cross over to the dancefloor! The set's filled with great numbers you'll never find in the original – like "Funky Billard" by Renato Sellani, "Bankok" by Giorgio Azzolini, "Bloom" by Gianni Basso, "Eskimo Fakiro" by Cladio Fasoli, "Tin Tin Deo" by Tullio de Piscopo – and the fantastic "Duke" by Roberto Mussolini, which has a beautiful mellow electric groove, and this haunting whistling throughout. One of fave tracks ever, and the rest of the stuff's excellent too!

A masterpiece of obscure jazzy groovers – the excellent 2nd entry in the Tempo Jazz series, and every bit as wonderful and eye-opening as the first! The vibe is incredible – soulful, spiritual, and free-thinking – with just the right touches of modernism to keep things sharp, but enough of an emphasis on the groove to help a few of these cross over to the dancefloor! The set's filled with great numbers you'll never find in the original – like "Funky Billard" by Renato Sellani, "Bankok" by Giorgio Azzolini, "Bloom" by Gianni Basso, "Eskimo Fakiro" by Cladio Fasoli, "Tin Tin Deo" by Tullio de Piscopo – and the fantastic "Duke" by Roberto Mussolini, which has a beautiful mellow electric groove, and this haunting whistling throughout. One of fave tracks ever, and the rest of the stuff's excellent too!