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Stefano Bollani: Joy in Spite of Everything
By
Chick Corea
piano1941 - 2021
Bollani unites faces old and new. Danish duo Morten Lund and

Jesper Bodilsen
bass
Mark Turner
saxophone, tenorb.1965

Enrico Rava
trumpetb.1939

Bill Frisell
guitar, electricb.1951
Bollani juggles the musicians in duo, trio, quartet and quintet formations. Perhaps the album's most engaging tracks, however, are when all hands are on deck: on the delightfully breezy calypso "Easy Healing," whether soling or comping, the five musicians dance and sing as one; bebop as spoken by

Thelonious Monk
piano1917 - 1982
Bollani and Frisell dovetail more closely on the delicate quartet lullaby "Ismene" and get tighter still on the duet "Teddy," where lead and comping lines happily blur. The latter track is apparently inspired by

Teddy Wilson
piano1912 - 1986

Art Tatum
piano1909 - 1956
"Aloba e Kurda," a trio workout fusing baroque, jazz and folkloric influences sees Bollani at his most compellingrestlessly exploring, always melodic. The balladic "Las Hortensias" features lyrical solos from Bodilsen and Turner, with Lund's skittering brushes and Bollani's subtle comping stirring the currents; Bodilsen and Lund drop out, leaving piano and saxophone to converse in harmony. When the quartet reunites on the fleeting coda its imprint is as delicate as a breeze rustling leaves.
The cover art-work isn't your typical ECM fare, but if walls of smoke born of conflict are sadly all too familiar sights on the TV news, then Bollani's optimism and his perpetually uplifting music are potent reminders that there's also much to celebrate in this life. ">
Track Listing
Easy Healing; No Pope No Party; Alobar e Kudra; Las hortensias; Vale; Teddy; Ismene; Tales From The Time Loop; Joy In Spite Of Everything.
Personnel
Stefano Bollani
pianoStefano Bollani: piano; Mark Turner: tenor saxophone; Bill Frisell: guitar; Jesper Bodilsen: double-bass; Morten Lund: drums.
Album information
Title: Joy in Spite of Everything | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: ECM Records
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