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

PAOLO FRESU | RICHARD GALLIANO | JAN LUNDGREN — Mare Nostrum II (2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The sound of Europe, part two: Fresu - Galliano - Lundgren. Italy - France - Sweden. "Mare Nostrum" connects the musical cultures of its performers and countless people worldwide who eagerly listen to this European sound. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Apnea 5:05
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
2    Blue Silence 5:09
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
3    Aurore 3:57
Composed By – Richard Galliano
4    Kristallen Den Fina 3:51
 -Traditional
Arranged By [Arr. by] – Jan Lundgren
5    Giselle 5:09
Composed By – Richard Galliano
6    E Varie Notti Tre Vie Notai 4:30
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
7    Farväl 4:47
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
8    Gnossienne No. 1 4:47
Arranged By [Arr. by] – Richard Galliano
Composed By – Erik Satie
9    Lili 3:42
Composed By – Richard Galliano
10    Leklåt 4:02
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
11    Le Livre D'un Père Sarde 4:11
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
12    Si Dolce È Il Tormento 6:11
Arranged By [Arr. by] – Paolo Fresu
Composed By – Claudio Monteverdi
Credits:
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Richard Galliano - Accordion, Bandoneon & Accordina
Jan Lundgren - Piano

PAOLO FRESU | RICHARD GALLIANO | JAN LUNDGREN — Mare Nostrum III (2019) FLAC (tracks), lossless

„An album full of lyricism and solemnity, beautifully engineered, and exuding feelings of discovery and the joy of collaboration.“
-The Arts Journal (US)

The old saying that ‘all good things come in threes’ might be a cliché with no particular logic to it, but as a way to describe the virtues of Mare Nostrum, it’s right on the money. Twelve years ago, Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren, all from the upper echelons of European jazz, formed their trio. Each has his roots in the musical tradition of his home country, and each has used it to develop his own musical language. These are musicians who bring their individuality and inspiration to a multitude of projects in modern jazz, and so transcend borders and connect genres. All three men have poetry in their playing. Their love of melody binds them together, and does so more than ever in this new third album.

In fact, "Mare Nostrum III" completes a trilogy of albums. Right from the beginning of their decade-long collaboration, the group has had the idea of recording an album in each of their home countries. They made the first in Italy in 2007, and it took these busy musicians until 2016 to go to France and to record the second. Their third destination was Sweden, and the Nilento Studio in Gothenburg. "Once again,” says René Hess, the Swiss producer of the album, says, "it was a pure pleasure to see the sheer ease with which Paolo, Richard and Jan can create such great music."

The first thing the listener notices is the natural, spontaneous way the thread of the musical conversation unfolds. Their affinity in soul and spirit is immediately recognizable. This group of equals is a version of Europe which is united, democratic, and brings everything together. Each of the three contributed four original compositions plus a favourite piece. It is mostly possible to work out by listening who has written the pieces, and yet the trio translates into a common language; it’s a language which all have a thorough understanding of, and a genuine feeling for.

The album begins with Richard Galliano's "Blues sur Seine". It’s a plaintive piano melody reminiscent of Satie, or possibly Grieg. It’s joined by a veiled trumpet line before high notes from a lamenting accordion take over. Paris is in there, but so are fjords, Mediterranean shores and Basin Street in New Orleans. The whole thing is pure simplicity and enchantment. Characteristically Italian pathos then emerges in Fresu's "Pavese", in a natural frame of spontaneous soundscapes. Lundgren's "Love Land" has lively, cheerfully intertwining voices and a catchy theme that conjures up the magic of Swedish folklore. Then all three bring their persuasive lyricism to two of the most bittersweet melodies ever written, Michel Legrand's "The Windmills Of Your Mind" and Eduardo Di Capua's "I'te vurria vasà".

Three pieces follow that in each case deal with a very personal memory. With the wonderful "Le Jardin des Fées", Richard Galliano honours the memory of his compatriot and friend, the much-missed great jazz violinist Didier Lockwood. In "Del Soldato in trincea" Paolo Fresu recalls one of his favourite films, Ermanno Olmi's "Torneranno i prati". And Jan Lundgren strolls through the streets of "Ronneby", the small Swedish town where he grew up, with a strongly rhythmic blues-infused folk music melody. All three then bring Quincy Jones' love theme from the film "The Getaway" back to their own shores. Then follows Fresu’s concentrated "Human Requiem", played entirely on muted trumpet, and the slow sustained concentration of Galliano's "Letter To My Mother". In the final tracks, Lundgren's "The Magic Stroll", reminiscent of the musicals, and Richard Galliano's classically inspired "Prayer", with the feel of rolling along on the waves of the ocean, these three exceptional musicians have found a perfect symbiosis.

With "Mare Nostrum III", Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundgren have once again created a wonderful ballad album. Through their music they rise way above that old discussion about whatever "jazz" might be nowadays. What they have achieved instead is to bring the sound of Europe to life. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Blues Sur Seine 4:54
Composed By – Richard Galliano
2    Pavese 4:57
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
3    Love Land 4:23
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
4    The Windmills Of Your Mind 3:38
Composed By – Michel Legrand
5    I'te Vurria Vasà 4:33
Composed By – Alfredo Mazzucchi, Eduardo di Capua
6    Le Jardin Des Fées 5:12
Composed By – Richard Galliano
7    Del Soldato In Trincea 2:15
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
8    Ronneby 3:37
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
9    Love Theme From "The Getaway" 3:10
Composed By – Quincy Jones
10    Human Requiem 4:30
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
11    Letter To My Mother 5:09
Composed By – Richard Galliano
12    Love In Return 4:26
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
13    Perfetta 3:18
Composed By – Paolo Fresu
14    The Magic Stroll 2:59
Composed By – Jan Lundgren
15    Prayer 4:13
Composed By – Richard Galliano
Credits:
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Richard Galliano - Accordion, Bandoneon & Accordina
Jan Lundgren - Piano

NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNIT — Licence To Funk (2007) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Licence to Funk is the eighth album by the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, and again, the Swedish trombonist reconfigures the band's personnel to keep things fresh. He keeps the rhythm section of German drummer Wolfgang Haffner and bassist Magnum Coltrane Price and adds reedman Magnus Lindgren, keyboardist and vocalist Ida Sand, and -- the biggest surprise here -- Detroit guitarist Ray Parker, Jr., author of the hit single "Ghostbusters," who had retired from music in the early '90s and then reappeared on Landgren's collaboration with pianist Joe Sample, Creole Love Call, in 2005. After the previous record's experimentation with ABBA tunes (Funky ABBA), Licence to Funk is basically an homage to various types of old-school '70s funk: the dry, hard-edged funk of James Brown's famous rhythm section is celebrated in an energetic cover of Fred Wesley's "House Party," another cover brings back the bouncy disco-funk of the Ashford & Simpson/Quincy Jones classic "Stuff Like That," and there are several nods toward the smooth soul-funk of the Crusaders -- for example, Landgren's own composition "24Hours," with its soft electric piano, relaxed background vocals, and sweet flute melody, or his near-instrumental "Capetown Shuffle" (not to mention a cover of Crusaders bassist Wilton Felder's "Brazos River Breakdown"). Despite the three cover tunes and the large number of comparisons the music brings to mind, Licence to Funk is neither a full retro album nor a slavish imitation of all those acts -- the Funk Unit is in top form, with tightly locked grooves and inspired soloing, and the record is an excellent showcase for a band that knows how to use a funk rhythm as a springboard to exciting interplay. While all of the musicians are great (and all, except for Lindgren, contribute original songs), Ray Parker, Jr.'s presence is what gives the group that something extra: listening to his opening guitar licks on "Freak U" and the bluesy "Secret" alone makes you glad he's back. The two songs he's written are among the album's highlights: the gritty, driving rhythm of "SampleRayT" inspires some soulful soloing by saxman Magnus Lindgren, and Parker even sings in his instantly recognizable voice on "For Those Who Like to Party." If the Nils Landgren Funk Unit continue to record albums this good, their title-giving licence will never be revoked. Christian Genzel

"With a top-class band, every track becomes fiery party music for jazz-rock fans." - AUDIO ACT
Tracklist :
1    House Party 5:05
Written-By – Fred Wesley
2    Freak U 4:35
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
3    24Hours 4:30
Written-By – Nils Landgren
4    Stuff Like That 5:39
Written-By – Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Quincy Jones
5    Slowfoot 5:49
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
6    Capetown Shuffle 5:52
Written-By – Nils Landgren
7    At Home 5:22
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price, Wolfgang Haffner
8    Secret 4:40
Written-By – Ida Sandlund
9    SampleRayT 5:41
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
10    For Those Who Like To Party 4:25
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
11    Brazos River Breakdown 5:10
Written-By – Wilton Felder
12    Tomomis Tune 6:57
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
Credits:
Bass, Vocals – Magnum Coltrane Price
Drums, Vocals – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar, Vocals – Ray Parker Jr.
Keyboards, Vocals – Ida Sand
Trombone, Vocals – Nils Landgren
Woodwind, Vocals – Magnus Lindgren

DIETER ILG — Otello live at Schloss Elmau (2011) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Between jazz and classical: impressive variations of Verdi's master opera "Otello" by Germany's leading bassist Dieter Ilg. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Fuoco Di Gioia    4:38
2    O Là    5:39
3    Quando Narravi    6:39
4    Jago    5:00
5    A Questa Tua    6:37
6    Dio! Mi Potevi    3:38
7    Orror    4:56
8    Le Amare Stille    1:40
9    Mistero    5:23
10    Ave Maria    4:03
11    Otello    11:18
Credits:
Artwork [Cover] – Georg Baselitz
Bass, Producer, Mixed By – Dieter Ilg
Composed By – Guiseppe Verdi
Drums – Patrice Heral
Piano – Rainer Böhm