Search - Rosario Giuliani :: More Than Ever

Huge potential fully realized

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 05/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In his handful of releases stateside prior to this disc, Rosario Giuliani, a youngish Italian alto and soprano player, always displayed monster chops, great timing, and a rather staid bop/post bop/hard bop jazz vocabulary. And not much more.



All that changes here. Refining the Jackie McLean/Phil Woods balls-to-the-wall approach, he's as likely here to go for a skewed, skitterish phrase as pound the metal to the floor. But perhaps the biggest difference is the overall musical context into which he's chosen to situate himself. It was a great decision to bring pianist Jean-Michel Pilc on board for half the numbers, and nearly as great to have Richard Galliano on accordion for just about the other half (they play together on one selection).



Pilc is fast becoming one of the stellar jazz pianists of his generation, right up there with Brad Mehldau and Jacky Terrasson. Here his technique dazzles and coruscates as he pulls off one impossible passage after another, all squarely within the tune's vibe. Blessed with a spectacular sense of rhythm, he dances, spins, stutter-steps, stops, and starts, all the while painting a brilliant soundscape. His athletic pianisms jolt Giuliani out of his boppish comfort zone and goad him into some very deft, pleasing, and sophisticated solos.



Galliano works similar but slightly different magic. His playing, coming from some ur-folk place, has so much depth of richness and emotion as to be almost overwhelming. He educes a poignancy and heartfelt character out of Giuliani that I've never heard from him before. Both Pilc and Galliano seem completely into the vibe here, and both produce some of their finest playing on record.



As for the leader, as sometimes happens, he seems to have suddenly, overnight, come completely into his own distinct voice. There's a freedom and loose-limbedness in his playing where it used to be slightly pinched and restricted. He still retains that slightly sour sound favored by many modern altoists, but he's found a much greater range of expression and emotion, as well as a richer timbre, in this latest outing.



A note about the rhythm section. Drummer Benjamin Henocq plays his butt off, deploying apposite world percussive, post-bop, and polyrhythmic stylings, and generally manhandling his kit in an entirely convincing display of controlled drumming pyrotechnics. And Remi Vignolo on double bass acquits himself admirably.



An entirely satisfying outing, marking a huge advance in the career of Rosario Giuliani."

"his performance leaps into the stratosphere ~ Giuliani"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dreyfus Records presents an original in the world of Jazz...releasing "More Thank Ever", featuring Rosario Giuliani on alto & soprano sax has all the ingredients and unique formula of a very big hit on the Jazz Scene...backup crew is Remi Vignolo on contrebasse/double bass, Benjamin Henocq on batterie/drums and special guests Richard Galliano on accordeon/accordion and Jean-Michel Pilc on piano...recorded in April of 2004 at Studio Guillaume Tell (Suresnes, France) by Rene Ameline and assisted by Pedja Babic which are some of the best around today.



Giuliani serves up 10 great tracks all composed by himself with the following exceptions..."I REMEMBER ASTOR" and "J.F.", composed by Richard Galliano..."MR. R.G.", composed by Jean-Michel Pilc...the following are alphabetical order and will immediately grab you.

DREAM HOUSE (Giuliani)

I REMEMBER ASTOR

J. F.

LONDON BY NIGHT (Giuliani)

MONSIUR MARTIN (Giuliani)

MR. R.G.

MORE THAN EVER (Giuliani)

SEVEN THOUGHTS (Giuliani)

SUITE ET POURSUITE I, II, III (Giuliani)



Totally agree with reviewer J. Dennis "Longboard Jazzer" from Monument, Colorado USA, about the complete turn around of Giuliani's performance on this disc...there is certainly a big difference in the overall musical context...smart move to bring pianist Jean-Michel Pilc in with Richard Galliano on accordion...and as noted they play together on one selection...both seem to have completely bonded as one and the result is pure listening pleasure in the world of America's original music- JAZZ...as "Longboard Jazzer" points out an entirely satisfying outing, marking a huge advance in the career of Rosario Giuliani...and I (Mr. Jim) for one second the motion!



Total Time: 56:00 on 10 Tracks ~ Dreyfus Records 36669 ~ (5/10/2005)"