DVDfever.co.uk – Putuyamo presents Italia CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Putumayo World Music
- Released: May 2009
- Rating: 10/10+
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Contemporary Italians reflect the globalisation of their country, through music.
On this sublime collection, effectively a sequel to Italian Café from June 2005 which focussed on the post war optimism and carefree energy of the period, as 1950s American jazz blended with Italian ballads and folk music.
Putumayo now concentrates on a new batch of incredibly enthusiastic artists prepared to brave a new wave of eclecticism, though past-masters are very much in their thought process. It reflects the ever growing fusion of indigenous sounds with outside influences occurring musically around the globe today. Its a gamble, but it works brilliantly, especially on Italia.
One such protagonist is much travelled Simone Lo Porto from Milan.This restless soul embarked on many travels in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. It was during his travels he began concentrating on songwriting. It was a far removed task from his initial visual arts studies and freelance television cameraman duties.Lo Porto draws inspiration from the lush and cool Brazilian rhythms and instrumentation for his delightful song Il Girasole (The Sunflower) where he still manages to infuse an indigenous feel through his simple observational artistic lyrics, and smooth vocal style.
Founded by Roman singer-songwriter Serge Gaggiotti in 2002, quintet Rossomalpelo is possibly the most interesting and eclectic of the bunch.This fabulous band takes in influences including jazz, pop, blues, tango, Caribbean and Latin music, but their Il Mare Mi Salva (The Sea Saves Me) draws its elements from Gypsy-folk with Latin jazz overtones, celebrating the joys of summer spent on the beach: Well arrive at the sea, full of desire for the sun / To dry out the damp of the months spent working / Well surrender ourselves to the moons kisses, is pure Italian romanticism. Theres an exquisite sax solo by Carlo Conti.
For me, the album really takes off with the fabulous tango flavoured Colpo di Coda. Pitonis solo career began in 1997, following a stint with a band in the mid-80s. This track, which tells the tale of escapism, is lifted from his solo album Le Cose Che Vedi. Violin and harmonium initially lay a gypsy texture, but the passion of the piece kicks in when the brass section huff and puff giving it a passionate mood.It comes as no surprise that someone should throw in a touch of reggae.
Around since 1993 with 11 albums under their belt, Bandabardo lead by Enrico Enriquez Greppi, they take things to the max with this infectious and jolly tale about the apprehensions of a neophytes romantic encounter, hence the title The Beginner.Melodic singer-songwriter Giorgio Conte is well known for his witty lyrics, Dance with me / Even if youre half asleep, is typical of his quirkiness. This former lawyer (he gave up practicing in 1993 to pursue a musical career) has a penchant for indulging in crossover jazz mixed with French chanson, and Dance With Me (Balla Con Me) is a gushing example of his sometimes melodramatic romantic songs.
Lu Colombo is a big name on the Italian music scene via her disco hits Maracaibo and Dance All Nite (the usual Eurovision types) and musical theatre exploits. Here she goes for a more subdued and subtle acoustic swing template. Gina, the story of an alcoholic, pulls no punches in its advice.
Known as the Italian Leonard Cohen, husky voiced Gianmaria Testa began performing his introspective songs in the northern region of Piemonte, near France. Il Viaggio (The Voyage) is a folky tale sung in a husky voice with acoustic guitar, and is arguably the most indigenous song and sound on offer. Its not the greatest sounding song here, but fits well on the compilation.
Musicologist and guitarist Lino Straulino is well known for singing in Friulian dialect used in the north eastern region of Friuli.He also adopts a more traditional template, from the European folk songbook, often favoured by the likes of Ralph McTell. A violent spirit was quite common in the genres writing, and La Piccola Inglesina (The Little English Girl) is a typical tale of murder that he probably acquired from village elders in his home region during his early performances.
The only instrumental on the CD is Iquique, named after a Chilean village that pianist composer Rocco De Rosas grandfather emigrated to in the 1920s. This spirited gem from De Rosas 2002 album Rotto Distratte sees a return to more Mediterranean colours underpinned by solid jazz rhythms and fusion elements. His piano work is exquisite, though much of the track is driven by brass edgy swings. After fronting a heavy metal band for several years, Canadian born Marco Calliari switched codes after years of listening to his parents opera and folk collection as a youngster. Returning to his musical roots in 2006, he surprised everyone with the retro sounds of his solo album Che La Vita.
Written by Neapolitan musician Renato Carosone, Tu Vuo Fa Lameicano was a huge hit due to Sophia Loren duetting with Clark Gable in the romantic movie La baia di Napoli (It Started In Naples / 1960). Most music lovers will know this delightful tune, originally done in a pseudo rocknroll style reflecting the exuberant mood of post -war Naples, with Calliari keeping much of the originals spirit with added brass blasts.Urban singer-songwriter Alessandro Mannarinos tale of being drunk with love, Me So Mbriacato is typical of his eclectic repertoire reflecting Romes modern multicultural influences. A big star in Italy, Mannarino also injects Balkan and Gyspy flavours into this magnificent, if cheesy, tragicomic ballad, that Italians do so well.
The verdict Another winner for Putumayo.
Weblink: For info and music samples visit:putumayo.com
Also, one of the artists on the new Putumayo CD, India, Kiran Ahluwalia is nominated for a Songlines Award, category ‘Best Newcomer’:
songlines.co.uk/awards2009 /vimeo.com/3270306
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Il Girasole Simone Lo Porto
2. Il Mare Mi Salva Rossomalpelo
3. Colpo di Coda Alessandro Pitoni
4. Il Principiante Bandabardo
5. Balla Con Me Giorgio Conte
6. Gina Lu Colombo & Maurizio Geri Swingtet
7. Il Viaggio Gianmaria Testa
8. La Piccola Inglesina Lino Straulino
9. Rocco De Rosa Iquique
10. LAmericano Marco Calliari
11. Me So Mbriacato Alessandro MannarinoView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.