Marco Bittelli - Andrea (2017)

The Italian jazz guitarist and composer, Marco Bittelli has a long-standing interest in Latin Jazz music, first touched on with his first CD, Libera, twenty years ago. Andrea expands on that affinity and on the guitarist's interest in Cuban and Brasilian music. The result is this original mix of slow- to up-tempo pieces, limpid original songs that are filled with romanticism and lyricism. The rhythms, typical of Latin music, are combined with melodies rooted in the Italian's melodic tradition. The CD presents three Bossa Novas at different tempos, including Andrea, the title track. To this, Bittelli has added an Habanera, Notte Cubana (A Cuban Night), and a Samba, Che Rumba, arranged by Italian guitarist and composer Davide Brillante. These songs are perfectly continuous with the traditional material. A Waltz for Weiser is written in the tradition of Jazz waltzes, while On the wrong side of Town is a fast Latin Jazz tune with dissonant harmonies. Jibacoa is a song for Piano and Cello, inspired by the music of Cuban composer Ignacio Cervantes, composed with Davide Brillante. The music is enhanced by a series of excellent musicians and guests. Gregory Yasinitsky on Tenor and Alto Sax, Ann Yasinitsky on Flute, Brian Ploeger on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Brian Ward on Piano, David Snider on Double Bass, David Jarvis on Drums and Percussions. Vincenzo De Franco (Cello) and Dimitri Sillato (Piano) adds their own touch on Jibacoa. Vern Sielert adds its Jazz voice on Trumpet on An afternoon with Charles. Andrea is true to its Latin and Italian inspired origins, while creating its own original moods.