Al Italia - cdRoots, southern routes in world music
So recently I read in someone's blog that cdRoots was THE place to buy Italian CDs. They said it was my specialty, implied it was all I sold, in fact. You know better of course, but as I looked through the new releases, it WAS a bit heavy on the Mediterranean this month. I can't help it. It's all so good, and I am like a kid in a candy shop when I get those new rlease sheets fro the record labels! So here are a few to focus on, friends:
Amore e Acciaio ("love and steel") refers to the lyrical content of the songs presented here, about factory layoffs, famous murders, sons going off to war. But it is also a good description of the music of Lucilla Galeazzi. She has a huge heart that comes through in every note she sings, and those notes are powerful, full of the strength and wisdom of Italian roots. This 2006 recording confirms my opinion that among the firmament of Italian singers, Galeazzi still shines as bright as any.
Riccardo Tesi (accordion) and Claudio Carboni (sax) of Banditaliana reach into the traditional music of Bolognese Apennines for ballads, polkas, mazurkas, tangos, traditional dances, work songs, lullabies and more for Crinali recording of la tradizione musicale dell'Appennino bolognese in cerca di mare...
The twelve-string guitarist and singer Massimo Ferrante is back with another collection of pieces from southern Italy, Ricuordi. He presents songs of protest and social themes, stornelli - folk tales, celebrations and dance tunes accompanied by an outstanding group of musicians: Francesco Migliaccio (accordion), Enrico Del Gaudio (drums), Roberto Giangrande (double bass), Francesco Banchini (clarinet), Rino Saggio (flute and sax), Leonardo Massa (cello).
Luca Di Volo and Claudia Bombardella present Strumenti Di Pace: Live, a powerful recording of new music composed and performed by Di Volo (saxophones, clarinet and voice) and Bombardella (viola, accordion, voice and tuba), with a small chamber ensemble of percussion, strings, reeds, bombard, cornmuse and more.
Franca Masu, the wonderful singer from the Sardinian region of Alghero (whose inhabitants speak Catalan) returns with Aquamare, a solid new recording of folk songs in a jazzy, contemporary vein, with a equally solid acoustic ensemble of guitars, mandocello, accordion, reeds, acoustic bass and percussion.
Finally, writer Enrico Noviello investigates the life and music of the recently deceased Italian musician and singer in Andrea Sacco suona e canta, a book and CD set tells "the story of the singer and storyteller from Carpino." The 128 page soft-cover book, written in Italian (no translations), includes lots of photos along with a detailed history. The accompanying CD is 21 tracks recorded from 1966 through 2002. Forwards by Franco Cassano and Salvatore Villani.
Need more? - CF
posted by cf @ 12:57 PM
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