Round About Roma [Enhanced]

Round About Roma [Enhanced]

ASIN: B00006RZ5Y

On this CD: 1. Anastasia
Composed by Stefano di Battista
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

2. Amoroso
Composed by Stefano di Battista
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

3. Tartaruga
Composed by Stefano di Battista
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

4. Romeo and Juliet, film score Romeo and Juliet Theme
Composed by Nino Rota
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

5. The Other Side
Composed by Vince Mendoza
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

6. Arabesque
Composed by Vince Mendoza
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

7. Roma Antica
Composed by Stefano di Battista
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

8. The Next Nine Hours
Composed by Stefano di Battista
Performed by Symphonic Orchestra "Les Archets de Paris" with Stefano di Battista, Andre Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso, Eric Legnini
Conducted by Vince Mendoza

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Combining Cannonball Adderley's bluesy tone and John Coltrane's passion, alto and soprano saxophonist Stefano di Battista is one of the brightest European jazzmen to emerge from the continent in recent years. He worked with Michel Petrucciani and Elvin Jones and released A Prima Vista, his U.S. debut, on the Blue Note label. On this CD, backed by a quartet, he delivers an impassioned musical tribute to his hometown, Rome. Augmented by the brilliant string arrangements of Vince Mendoza, these sessions are a tasteful blend of Charlie Parker's Charlie Parker with Strings and the romantic strains of Nino Rota's film scores. That cinematic sound is draped on the songs "Amoroso" and "Anastasia." "Romeo and Juliet" is Di Battista's heartfelt take on Franco Zeffirelli's famous motion picture, while "Arabesque" dances with zesty, midtempo rhythms. On the ballad "Roma Antica," his silky sax takes us back to the days when the Eternal City was new. That's what timeless music does. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Tracks:

Anastasia
Amoroso
Tartaruga
Romeo And Juliet
The Other Side
Arabesque
Roma Antica
The Next Nine Hours

Amazon.com

Combining Cannonball Adderley's bluesy tone and John Coltrane's passion, alto and soprano saxophonist Stefano di Battista is one of the brightest European jazzmen to emerge from the continent in recent years. He worked with Michel Petrucciani and Elvin Jones and released A Prima Vista, his U.S. debut, on the Blue Note label. On this CD, backed by a quartet, he delivers an impassioned musical tribute to his hometown, Rome. Augmented by the brilliant string arrangements of Vince Mendoza, these sessions are a tasteful blend of Charlie Parker's Charlie Parker with Strings and the romantic strains of Nino Rota's film scores. That cinematic sound is draped on the songs "Amoroso" and "Anastasia." "Romeo and Juliet" is Di Battista's heartfelt take on Franco Zeffirelli's famous motion picture, while "Arabesque" dances with zesty, midtempo rhythms. On the ballad "Roma Antica," his silky sax takes us back to the days when the Eternal City was new. That's what timeless music does. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Simply beautiful!.......2006-08-29

This is easily one of the most beautifully performed jazz saxophone CDs I've ever heard. I didn't know of Stefano di Battista but learned through research that this CD was arranged and conducted by Vince Mendoza and that was all I needed to hear. Mendoza only writes two of the tunes here; "Arabesque" and "Amoroso" but it makes no difference. Conducting and arranging is his forte and his influence is obvious over all the other tracks and no disrespect to di Battista (who wrote five other songs) or Nino Rota, who of course wrote the theme to "Romeo and Juliet", this CD is to these ears, all the better for it. di Battista is a great saxophone player and has obviously been influenced by some of the greats from the past as well as his contemporaries. He says as much on his inner sleeve notes. He is a master of improvisation but more than that, it's the emotion he evokes with his intrument that is so worth checking out. There are places where he makes his saxophone wail as if its heart were breaking. It is truly moving stuff.

A wonderful piece of art from beginning to end. Special props to Eric Legnini for his amazing piano work and to Les Archets de Paris Orchestra, for the mesmerising musical landscape they helped create. Simply beautiful!

One of the best "jazz with strings" discs ever........2005-02-06

The coming together of ace arranger and conductor Vince Mendoza with rising alto saxman Stephano di Battista here produces a kind of small miracle. It's very difficult to make this kind of session work. The challenge is to retain the rigor of jazz while adding the lush gorgeousness of sumptuous strings. Sloppy, maudlin sentimentality too often results.

Not here.

Mendoza brilliantly solves the aural puzzle, and the result is an altogether ravishingly beautiful sonic excursion that displays sufficient jazz sensibilities and rigor to satisfy the most nit-picky critic while at the same time exhibiting sheer aural ravishment.

Quite an accomplishment, and one hardly ever achieved in the jazz-with-strings arena.

If there is any analog, it strikes me that Fellini Jazz by Enrico Pieranunzi might be it. Both discs share an aural extravagance seldom encountered in the world of jazz. And both manage to retain enough jazz firmness to avoid the Scylla of sentimentality while also skirting the Charybdis of empty charism.

The beauty of Italian jazz fully on display. Absolutely worth hearing.

Viva Italia !.......2004-10-30

It must be said this album is really the work of a sublime talent at the top of his game. Symphonic Jazz arrangements for sax are a rarity in this day and age, and really need a special kind of player to bring them to life. Di Battista is very much this kind of player. You can tell from his methodical approach on the album that he has probably had a classical backround, which is not uncommon amongst European players. However the real making of this man is in his versitility. This guy knows his horn like the back of his hand, and he's style in someways is a montage of some of the greats: Parker, Coltrane, Coleman, Cannonball, and even Brecker. But make no mistake, di Battista is a unique player with an orignal sound.

The album is airy, moody, lush, and sophisticated. The string arrangements are superb, and act as a spacious playground for di Battista to showcase his prodigal talent as one of the premier sax players comming out of Europe. If you are ever is Paris, make sure you check this guy out at the 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' clubs where I here he is somewhat of a resident.....

mendoza to the max.......2004-06-25

Vince Mendoza is the most compelling, incredible, talented arranger that I have ever heard. You must experience him.

Check out his records, especially "Start Here" and "Instructions Inside". None better!!!!!!!

A Trip In Rome..........2003-09-02

I heard Stefano Di Battista at the Jazz Festival in Eilat last week, and under the adrenaline and excitment of the show, I ran to buy this album. Di Battita was the best show of the Festival- Fast going, Energetic hot jazz, that got the entire audience on their feet. However, you'll not find it in this album. However, I wasn't dissappointed at all. This is a great album, with cool, quiet and calm Jazz. Di Battista's tunes and playing have some special aroma to it, unique to him, that brings to mind a small Cafe in Rome. It is a wonderful album, just close your eyes and let the music take you wherever it desiers, hopefully, it'll be Roma...

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