Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andrea Tofanelli: Flamingo

Andrea Tofanelli: Flamingo

By Nicholas F. Mondello
May 5, 2010
View read count

Back in 1974, a French daredevil named Philippe Petit brazenly high-wire walked across the span of New York's Twin Towers. He electrified the pre-internet, pre-YouTube world by spanning the buildings on a ?" wire cable eight times; a feat of incredible skill, athleticism and bravery later detailed in his book, To Reach the Clouds (North Point Press, 2002). With Flamingo Italian trumpeter Andrea Tofanelli magnificently performs his own incredible high-wire, high-note performance with similar bravado and trumpeting brilliance.

Tofanelli has scaled the heights of his instrument and the trumpet world, with a near-superhuman ability to take the trumpet into and beyond the rarefied realm frequented by the likes of

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson,

Cat Anderson

trumpet
1916 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Cat Anderson and Bud Brisbois. No gimmicky squeak artist, Tofanelli shows that he is a pure musician—and magician—in any register. He goes where no one has before, up to the fringes of auditory recognition.

Flamingo kicks off with a hip Latin rework of Domenico Medugno's '60s hit "Volare." The wordplay here is that volare, in Italian, means "to fly," and Tofanelli soars beyond the stratosphere on this and virtually every cut on . The title track could have come right from the Ferguson/

Stan Kenton

piano
1911 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Kenton songbook, while the inclusion of showcase selections such as "Nessun Dorma" and "Melodia Infinita" frame Tofanelli's high-note chops in a display of all-around-the-horn musicianship. Not since Maynard Ferguson (for whom Tofanelli composed and performs "The Last Legend") reigning at the Olympus of trumpeting have such sounds been heard.

Tofanelli's ability and restrained taste on flugelhorn shine beautifully. "Father" and "Dania's Theme" show that he has the intelligence and artistic heart to make it always about the music, the phrase and the ensemble, and not only the register. He avoids the temptation to take the marvelously mellow flugelhorn and scream shrilly on it, as some do. And, to his credit, this screamer can cook; his jazz chops are stellar on "To Bop." "Who's Your Daddy?," a Latin burner with

Arturo Sandoval

trumpet
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Arturo Sandoval-esque overtones, completes what is a trumpeting "tour de chops." Compared to Tofanelli, any trumpeter can be tossed that query by Tofanelli. This babbo (daddy) can ask that question without reservation.

The ensemble gathered for these sessions supports Tofanelli with flair on "Deal With It." The charts seem to have a European flavor, while the playing is swinging, intense and just-right tight. The band frames Tofanelli with energized, fiery support throughout.

The production values are very good, certainly a challenge given Tofanelli's powerhouse performance.

Ferguson, Anderson and Brisbois must be smiling in the "Upper Room," knowing that the screaming torch passed on is in such marvelously talented and musically artistic hands. Tofanelli can easily add his name to these greats in the pantheon of scream. While music lovers and musicians of all instruments will probably dig the artistry here, trumpeters will surely sit in awe of the talent, skill and musicianship of Andrea Tofanelli. A sky-high phenomenon.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Volare; Nessun Dorma; Flamingo; The Last Legend; ToBop; Melodia Infinita; Father; Deal With It; Dania's Theme; Who's Your Daddy?

Personnel

Andrea Tofanelli

trumpet

Andrea Tofanelli: trumpet, flugelhorn; Chris Hollyday: alto sax, flute, english horn; Warren Hatfield: alto sax, flute, english horn; Craig Yancey: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Ernie Delfante: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Roger Myers: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Wayne Bergeron: trumpet; Jim Linahon: trumpet; John Arranda: trumpet; Ken Lesight: trumpet; Bill Yeager: trombone; Jeff Tower: trombone; Greg Wolf, Jonathan Tower: trombone; Tony Mazza Ferro: tuba; Jerry Garvin: french horn, Tom Spivak: french horn, Markus Burger: piano, synthesizer; Tom Hynes: guitar; Adrian Rosen: bass; Eric Leckrone, Jim Coffin: percussion; Allen Carter: drums.

Album information

Title: Flamingo | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: American Creative Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Live
< Previous

Dandelion Clock
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.