Ilaria Crociani - Connecting the Dots (2023) Hi Res

From award-winning lyricist and composer Ilaria Crociani comes Connecting the Dots: a powerful and deeply moving tribute to women who have made a difference.

Born from Crociani’s personal experience of adjusting to a new life as an Italian migrant to Australia, Connecting the Dots weaves together narratives of hardship, vulnerability, resoluteness and redemption to paint an uplifting picture of resilience and hope. ‘Believing yourself to be alone, misunderstood and helpless in enduring the pains of living is the biggest and most foolish mistake anyone can make,’ she says. ‘This album is the fruit of a journey of personal discovery and reflection that led me to fully appreciate the importance of looking at other people's real-life experiences to build resilience in the face of adversity.’

The album offers a kaleidoscopic variety of songs, ranging from poignant and lyrical ballads to experimental numbers with a jazz-rock feel or an angular funky-reggae beat. The band is a who’s who of Australian jazz stars, with Paul Grabowsky on piano, Mirko Guerrini on sax, Niko Schäuble on drums, guitarist Geoff Hughes and Ben Robertson on bass, plus the ethereal sound of John Griffiths on lute, creating a bridge between early music, modern baroque and experimental jazz, and adding a final touch of unexpected yet ravishing hues to the album’s sound world.