PAOLO FRESU | RICHARD GALLIANO | JAN LUNDGREN — Mare Nostrum (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Mare Nostrum's biggest surprise isn't its instrumentation -- a trio of accordion, trumpet and piano -- but how natural the combination sounds in its execution. Of course, Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordion player Richard Galliano (who is of Italian offspring), and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren are well-known, critically praised jazz musicians who have all been known to eschew musical boundaries and defy genre limitations, so the music on Mare Nostrum -- an album co-led by all three -- shouldn't come as a surprise, nor should its quality, and yet not everybody would have expected such marvelous results. The 15 compositions on the album include originals by all three musicians and several covers, touching upon jazz, tango, classical music, and folk, reinterpreting Charles Trénet ("Que Reste-T-Il de Nos Amours?"), encompassing Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce"), and Maurice Ravel ("Ma Mère L'Oye"). There is an almost delightful sense of trust and ease among the three performers, who never take away their bandmates' spotlights, and who find a balance between playfulness and restraint throughout the album. The music is evocative, as if it was the soundtrack to a missing Louis Malle movie, and much of it creates a warm feeling of gentle nostalgia, even on the more up-tempo tracks. Let's hope these musicians meet again to record more music -- Mare Nostrum is a precious gem. Christian Genzel

"A little bit of tango, chanson, Satie-like sounds, coloured by jazz, result in an album that, from the first to the last note, quite relaxed, brings to light the most beautiful melodies ... the trio's music is already one of the most fascinating releases of the ACT label shortly after its release." (JAZZZEIT, AT) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Mare Nostrum 5:55
Written-By – Jan Lundgren
2    Principessa 4:35
Written-By – Richard Galliano
3    Eu Nao Existo Sem Você 2:58
Written-By – A.C. Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
4    The Seagull 3:18
Written-By – Jan Lundgren
5    Que Reste-t-il De Nos Amours? 4:32
Written-By – Charles Trenet
6    Years Ahead 5:05
Written-By – Jan Lundgren
7    Sonia's Nightmare 4:04
Written-By – Paolo Fresu
8    Chat Pitre 3:00
Written-By – Richard Galliano
9    Valzer Del Ritorno 4:24
Written-By – Paolo Fresu
10    Open Your Mind 4:05
Written-By – Jan Lundgren
11    Liberty Waltz 4:10
Written-By – Richard Galliano
12    Mio Mehmet, Forse Il Destino M'impedirà Di Rivederti 4:29
Written-By – Paolo Fresu
13    Ma Mère L'Oye 4:28
Arranged By – Richard Galliano
Written-By – Maurice Ravel
14    Para Jobim 3:57
Written-By – Richard Galliano
15    Vårvindar Friska 3:11
 -Traditional
Arranged By – Jan Lundgren
Credits:
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Richard Galliano - Accordion, Bandoneon & Accordina
Jan Lundgren - Piano