Daniele Cavallanti | Tiziano Tononi | Rings Of Fire | Long Song Records

On this brand new CD, produced by Fabrizio Perissinotto, who originally conceived and commissioned the project to the two musicians, Cavallanti and Tononi present two long and ambitious suites (“Faces” by Daniele Cavallanti and “Phases” by Tiziano Tononi) for an extraordinary high level octet that features American violin rising star Jenny Scheinman, Emanuele Parrini on viola, Achille Succi on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Massimo Mariani on guitar, Giovanni Maier on double and electric bass and Pacho on percussion. Featuring Jenny Scheinman & Emmanuele Parrini on strings, Danielle Cavallanti on tenor & bari saxes & Achille Succi on bass clarinet & alto sax, Massimo Mariani on electric guitar, Giovanni Maier on double & electric bass, Pacho on percussion, gongs & congas and Tiziano Tononi on drums & percussion. Both saxist Daniele Cavallanti and drummer, Tiziano Tononi have worked together in different projects for quite a while and can be heard on discs on Splasch and Black Saint. This amazing disc came in in November and I’ve played more than a dozen times since it is just incredible and it is 80 minutes long! Continue reading

Simone Massaron | Breaking News | Long Song Records

Breaking News is a project led by Italian guitarist Simone Massaron playing with a superb band: Daniele Cavallanti and Tiziano Tononi (from the critically acclaimed Italian Instabile Orchestra and Nexus), Steve Piccolo (Lounge Lizards) and the great New York guitarist Elliott Sharp. It’s raw and bluesy stuff, with jazz and improvised moments held together mainly by the saxophone and some experimental and free movements. There’s also a furious version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Run Through The Jungle” featuring some exciting electric lap steel work by Elliott Sharp. Continue reading

Daniele Cavallanti | Electric Unit | with Nels Cline | Smoke Inside | Long Song Records

As a sideman, Cline is no less adventurous. His guitar snakes through the opening silence of Daniele Cavallanti’s Smoke Inside, before the leader’s smoky tenor gives chase. “Cline’s Line” is a fusion anthem, complete with spacey Rhodes, electric bass and pulsing rock beat. After the band enters, Cline cuts a jagged course, sparring briefly with Cavallanti before taking the lead all the way to the finish. Smoke Inside “is electric jazz: pre-fusion… pre-crappy,” says Cline of Cavallanti’s “Electric Unit”. The vibe is old school, but the playing is distinctly modern. Cavallanti positively burns on “Moods for Dewey”, driven by Cline and the relentless groove of drummer Pacho. The intensity rarely wanes through the album’s six tracks and Cavallanti’s “Electric Unit” shows the potential of jazz-rock in capable hands. —All About Jazz Continue reading

Rod Poole | Jim McAuley | Nels Cline | Acoustic Guitar Trio | Vignes | Long Song Records

This is one of many recordings that Rod Poole made documenting this trio’s concert work. Tragically, Rod was murdered in 2007. But after reviewing his recordings during our concertizing days, we had collectively selected and sequenced pieces from this perfomance at the Downtown Playhouse and arrived at the title “Vignes”, which is the name of the street in Downtown Los Angeles where the space is located. It is a blessing to see this music finally released. This document is dedicated with love to the memory of our brilliant comrade, Rod Poole.Nels, Jim – Los Angeles, November 2008 Continue reading

Jacek Kochan | Monorain | Not Two Records

Jacek Kochan – drums | Andre Leroux – tenor sax, soprano sax (1, 3, 5, 7) | Adam Pierończyk – tenor, soprano sax (2, 4, 6) | Michel Donato – bass (1, 3, 5, 7) | Sławomir Kurkiewicz – bass (2, 4, 6) | Grzegorz Nagórski – trombone (2, 6) | Piotr Wojtasik – trumpet (2, 4, 6) | Jean Pierre Zanella – alto, soprano sax (1, 3, 5, 7) Continue reading