Inquisitive, playful, nostalgic, and thoroughly Italian, saxophonist Gianluigi Trovesi pairs with accordionist Gianni Coscia to create arguably his finest album to date. On previous efforts, Trovesi sometimes tried too hard to be a sonic gypsy, diluting his recipe with a little too much funk, regional tunes, or improv. Here, he gets it just right, with heavy dollops of pastoral North Italian folk melodies, heartbreaking Morricone-inspired passages, a hint at tango, and just enough jazz to keep you on your toes. Case in point: somehow the Trovesi-penned "Minor Dance"--from its solemn intro to its swinging second half--makes the perfect bookend for the theme from Il Postino. Translated from Italian, the album's title track is "in search of nourishment." You'll hear that longing in this lyrical music, in the wheezy breaths of Coscia's accordion and the jaunty energy coming from Trovesi's sax. Liner notes by Umberto Eco try to describe this magical, genre-blurring pairing, but it really must be heard. |