In The Morning

SB, p; Salvatore Maiore, b; Roberto Dani, dr.Composer Alec Wilder has long been a favorite of jazz musicians --Jackie and Roy, Roland Hanna, Dave Liebman, Mundell Lowe, Marian McPartland and Ben Sidran have all recorded albums of his music-- but this is only the second album I’ve bought of jazz renditions of his lovely songs. The first was Bob Brookmeyer’s, 7 x Wilder (1961) with Brookmeyer on piano and valve trombone, Jim Hall guitar and backing them up. It’s the first time I’ve heard Milanese pianist Stefano Battaglia, though he’s got five previous albums under his belt, all critically acclaimed. (The last one, 2013’s Songways, features the same trio as on this album.)The differences between the two albums are instructive. It’s not simply a consequence of Brookmeyer having Jim Hall’s guitar in his group, or Brookmeyer’s ability to switch back and forth between piano and valve trombone on different tunes. Rather, it’s a difference in tone --and feeling. The Brookmeyer-Hall album is very laid back. It has an informal quality to it, which is enhanced the burry almost muted sound of Brookmeyer’s horn and the soft, lyric quality of Hall’s exquisite guitar lines. It’s like old friends talking together, and behind them is the impeccable rhythm keeping of two of the best rhythm keepers of the day. In Battaglia’s trio, the pianist dominates and the music sounds more formal, almost as though as series of movie tracks played by a topflight jazz trio. It reminds me of Enrico Pieranunzi’s two Plays Moricone albums. Like Joey Baron on the Pieranunzi/Morricone albums, on this album drummer Dani is muted, tasteful and inventive; his subtle brush and stick work moves business along with a steady but flexible beat. And like Marc Johnson on the two Morricone albums, the bassist on this album, Salvatore Maiore, has a resonant tone, plays fluid supporting lines, and his solos are well worth the listening. I’m delighted to have met up with this fine trio. I will almost certainly be listening to more albums by them in the near future.This album was recorded in April 2014 at the Torino Jazz Festival but the sound quality doesn’t suffer a bit: it is crystal clear.Oh, one more difference! There is no overlap at all in the songs recorded on the two albums.

This is the perfect recording of Alec Wilder's intricate and beautiful songs to me, interpreted by the immensely gifted and talented pianist Stefano Battaglia (check out his epic recording Songways) and captured so pristinely by ECM. The lyricism, transparency and sheer beauty here can be overwhelming at times, but fear not. This is a gem.

Ottimo live, ben registrato. D'altra parte questo trio è sempre stato fenomenale. Melodie ipnotiche e sognanti, perfetto interplay dei musicisti. Da ascoltare la sera, in cuffia. O durante un viaggio in auto.

Dopo avere letto una sua intervista sulla rivista "jazz" ho preso il disco. Non vi deluderà, lo potrete mettere su 50 volte ed ogni volta scoprirete qualcosa di nuovo. Grazie Stefano per la musica che ci hai donato!

Tutto ottimo

Trio Träumerei, vielleicht die schönste CD meines Lebens. Kein purer jazz , keine klassische Musik. Ein großartiger musikalischer Geschichtenerzähler dieser Battaglia. Und mein großen Dank an ECM für diese absolut zeitlose aufnahme.

Stefano Battaglia zählt für mich zu einem der besten Jazz-Pianisten der Gegenwart, wobei Jazz nicht ganz das trifft, was er spielt. Sein Background ist wohl die Klassik, er vereint eine fundierte Technik mit einem sehr feinen Gespür für Nuancen und Stimmungen, sowohl in seinen Kompositionen als auch in den freien Parts. Dabei verschmelzt das Trio mit Roberto Dani und Salvatore Majore zu einer Einheit, die erzählt. Ja, ich habe das Gefühl, sein Klavier erzählt, es spricht. Battaglia spielt nicht einfach, er erzählt auf dem Klavier. Und das so intensiv, dass man sich dem nicht entziehen kann. Manchmal regelrecht hypnotisch. Eine sehr eigene Sprache, nicht geschwätzig, dafür aber - tief.