Danilo Cubuzio - Another Opportunity (2024)

It took several years of concerts and study - with Stefano Onorati, at the Conservatory of Rovigo - because a pianist of the talent of Danilo Cubuzio finally found the courage to fix with a recording the point where his artistic growth had come. He decided to do so without the collaboration of more famous musicians, who could somehow increase the attention on his work, but by being joined by friends and fellow students at the Conservatory, with the only exception of the presence, in In the Morning, of a mature and talented saxophonist like Alberto Vianello. Danilo Cubuzio, from Bologna who has lived in Venice for many years, is not only a fine pianist, who has learned the lessons of the best interpreters of modern bop, but also an excellent leader, wise organizer of a group in which each member finds the space to shine, especially the guitarist Giuseppe A. Russo. Being joined by the guitar for a pianist is never easy, even if the history of jazz has given us the precious dialogues of Oscar Peterson and Herb Ellis, Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Mulgrew Miller and Russell Malone, just to give a few examples. The two harmonic instruments never seem to conflict, but each finds its space in a precious sound balance. Cubuzio also has a strong melodic taste, which emerges especially in Another Opportunity, the title track of the album, and in the final Second Song. He seems to have passed in the best way the never easy test of the recording debut. We now expect from him another important steps, to confirm the growth here carried out.