By: Cory Deines
Artist: Giovanni Mirabassi
Title: Out of Track
Label: Discograph / Minium
Release Date: 3.30.09
UPC: 3700666176282
Genres: Jazz
Territories: World ex-Japan
Out of Track is a remarkable record by a very remarkable jazz pianist. Born in Italy in 1970, Giovanni Mirabassi began playing piano at the age of three. Although Mirabassi received some instruction from a classical pianist, he is largely self-taught and studied jazz mainly by listening to the records of Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Jacky Byard, Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Parker, and of course the famous Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. After putting on my headphones and playing the first track “Dear Old Stockholm”, I immediately realized that Giovanni Mirabassi is one of those players that reminds me why I love jazz music so much. His ability to solo so lyrically and melodically blows me away. While his solos are harmonically intricate and wonderfully complex, what especially caught my ear was his phrasing. Especially in the tracks with straight eighth’s (as opposed to swung eighth’s commonly found in much of jazz music) you can hear some influence from classical music in his phrasing.
Accompanying Mirabassi on Out of Track are Italian bassist Gianluca Renzi and American drummer Leon Parker. While the album is technically a Giovanni Mirabassi solo album, it doesn’t stop Renzi and Parker from shining. Gianluca Renzi lays down some nice grooves and some great solos…my favorite is his solo in “Dear Old Stockholm” where he hums exactly what he’s playing while improvising. Out of Track features several jazz standards like “Alone Together”, “Just One of Those Things”, “Dear Old Stockholm”, and some original compositions as well. The track titled “Pieranunzi” is clearly dedicated to his idol and favorite pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. Overall, Out of Track is a genuinely stunning album, with each track just as fantastic as the next.
“I Found a New Baby”
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