Gianluca Petrella Cosmic Band

Nicola Conte's collaborator Gianluca Petrella and his Cosmic Band


I would like to write more about Schema Records and associating artists.

Nicola Conte "Rituals", Schema 2008

Nicola Conte is one of the main figures in Nu-Jazz scene since 90s. Even before Nu-Jazz term began to appear in the media, Italian producer / composer / DJ Nicola Conte was taking his bossa-nova style Jazz in to the floor.

This is his latest album "Rituals", from Schema in 2008. 4 years since his release "Other Directions" on Blue Note Records, this is his signature bossa-nova, latin-Jazz influenced sounds, but with more refined manner. Each track is a song, with vocals, rather than grooves or "dance track". With guests artists like Greg Osby, Teppo Makynen of The Five Corners Quintet, Jose James, and regulars like Pietro Lussu, Gianluca Petrella, and Fabrizio Bosso, he assembles and leads the collectives of musicians, without the use of laptop, drum machine, or turntables. It is nice to see the artists still playing live music. There is a great cover of Duke Ellington's "Caravan". There is also a EP from Schema which has 2 tracks from the album in different versions.

Nicola Conte Official Site
Nicola Conte on Myspace

Schema Records Official Site
Schema Records on Myspace
Schema Records on YouTube

Like Leaves In The Wind


Track Listing:
1. Karma Flower (4:03)
2. The Nubian Queens (6:20)
3. Like Leaves In The Wind (4:51)
4. Love In (4:52)
5. Awakening feat. Jose James (5:51)
6. Paper Clouds (4:08)
7. I See All Shades Of You (5:51)
8. Macedonia (7:06)
9. Song For The Seasons (3:33)
10. Red Sun (4:43)
11. Black Is The Graceful Veil (5:00)
12. Caravan (5:38)
13. Rituals (7:35)

Personnel:
Michael Pinto - Vibes, Percussions
Pierpaolo Bisogno - Vibes, Percussions
Dario Deidda - Bass
Pietro Ciancaglini - Bass
Lorenzo Tucci - Drums
Teppo Makynen - Drums
Daniele Scannapieco - Flute, Tenor Sax
Sandro Deidda - Flute, Tenor Sax
Diane Peters - Harp
Lyrics By [Words] - José James* (tracks: 5) , Nicola Conte (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9 to 11)
Music By - Dusko Gojkovich* (tracks: 8) , Nicola Conte (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11, 13) , Sandro Deidda (tracks: 9)
Pietro Lussu - Piano
Edizioni Ishtar - Producer
Nicola Conte - Producer, Guitar
Gaetano Partipilo - Alto Sax
Greg Osby - Alto Sax
Gianluca Petrella - Trombone
Mario Corvini - Trombone
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Giovanni Amato - Trumpet
Till Bronner - Trumpet
Alice Ricciardi - Vocals (tracks: 7, 9)
Chiara Civello - Vocals (tracks: 1, 6)
José James - Vocals (tracks: 2, 3, 5)
Kim Sanders - Vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 10, 11)
Philipp Weiss - Vocals (tracks: 4, 12)

Nicola Conte "Sketches of Samba", Schema 2008

The last of Nicola Conte triplet is "Sketches of Samba" from Schema in 2008. This is nice 10 inch vinyl EP with small group playing bossa-style Jazz. The 1st track "Groovy Samba" is cover from Cannonball Adderley's 1962 release "Bossa Nova" (on Riverside) featuring Sergio Mendez. The 2nd track "Solo" is a tribute to Brazilian multi-instrumentalist J.T. Meirelles of Meirelles E S Os Copa 5, in which the tune appeared on 1965 album "O Novo Som" (featuring Eumir Deodato on piano). Five Corner's Quintet's Timo Lassy and Teppo Makynen join as guests on track 2. The other 2 tracks are different version from Conte's album "Rituals". I am quite impressed with young trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso with fierce and energetic sound.

Nicola Conte and his group playing at Casa del Jazz on April 17, 2008


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Personnel:
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Daniele Scannapieco - Tenor Sax
Pietro Lussu - Piano
Nicola Conte - Guitar, Producer, Composer
Pietro Ciancaglini - Double Bass
Lorenzo Tucci - Drums

Timo Lassy - Flute (Track 2) from The Five Corners Quintet
Sandro Deidda - Tenor Sax (Track 2)
Teppo Makynen - Drums (Track 2)
The Five Corners Quintet
The Five Corners Quintet on Myspace
Timo Lassy
Timo Lassy on Myspace

Jose' James - Vocals (Track 3)
Sandro Deidda Flute, Tenor Sax (Track 3)
Giovanni Amato - Trumpet (Track 3)
Mario Corvini - Trombone (Track 3)
Pierpalo Bisogno - Vibes, Bongos (Track 3)
Sandro Deidda - Arrangement (Track 3)
Jose James
Jose James on Myspace

Gaetano Partipilo - Flute (Track 4)
Kim Sanders - Vocals (Track 4)
Pierpaolo Bisogno - Vibraphone, Congas (Track 4)
Kim Sanders
Kim Sanders on Myspace

Tracklist:
1. Groovy Samba
2. Solo
3. The Nubien Queen feat. Jose James (Samba Version)
4. Paper Clouds feat. Kim Sanders (Uptempo Version)

More about J.T. Meirelles, nice blog post from Jazz Station

Nicola Conte presents "Viagem", Far Out Recordings 2008

This year's another release from Nicola Conte is the compilation "Nicola Conte Presents Viagem" from Far Out Recordings, 2008. When you hear the first track, and if you are nu-jazz heads, you will go like "ahhhh".

"Nicola Conte Presents Viagem" on Far Out Recording
Fae Our Recording on Myspace

Download

Tracklist:
1. Tenório Jr. - Nebuloso
2. Trio Maraya - Canto De Ossanha
3. Hector Costita Sexteto - Tokio
4. Wanda Sá - Vivo Sonhando
5. Ana Lúcia - Balanço Do Mar
6. Zimbo Trio - Zimbo Samba
7. Djalma Dias & Sambossa 5 - Cidade Vazia
8. Octeto De Cesar Camargo Mariano - Samblues
9. Yvette - Preconceito
10. Bossa Jazz Trio - Vamos Embora Uau
11. Sansa Trio - Samba Em Blue
12. Edgard & Os Tais - Bambe-Lo
13. Claudia & Brazilian Octopus - Gosto De Ser Como Sou
14. Som 3 - Margarida B
15. Tenório Jr. - Samadhi

Irakere "Irakere", 1979 Columbia Records

Going along with Afro-Jazz theme, this is "Irakere", released by Columbia Records in 1979. Irakere is Afro-Cuban Jazz group led by pianist and keyboadist Jesus "Chucho" Valdes and saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. This was recorded at Newport Festival in NYC and Montreux Jazz Festival, and all tracks are composed and arranged by Valdes. The combination of drumming and brass is so energetic, so many change of tempo, and styles, from chanting to drumming to solos. In every tracks, you could find "break" to chop it, if you are in to chopping beats. But not in a commercial way, in a style of natural Cuban rhythm, jam session.

Though this album is everything about Latin-Jazz, it is so interesting to hear that there is a section in the middle on "Misa Negra", that Chucho Valdez plays acoustic piano in classical arrangement. Also interesting enough, the last track "Aguanile" is featured on Grand Theft Auto Vice City soundtrack: Radio Espantoso.

Personnel:
Chucho Valdes: Piano, keyboard
Paquito D'Rivera: Alto sax, Soprano sax, Flute
Arturo Sandoval: Trumpet, vocals
Carlos Averhoff: Tenor sax, Soprano sax, Flute
Jorge Varona: Trumpet
Carlos Emilio Morales: Guitar
Oscar Valdes: Percussions, vocals
Carlos del Puerto: Bass
Jorge "El Nino" Alfonso: Percussions
Armando Cuervo: Percussions
Enrique Pla: Drums


Side A:
1. Juana Mil Ciento
2. Ilya
3. Adagio

Side B:
1. Misa Negra (The Black Mass)
2. Aguanile

Also recommending this release for Cuban-Jazz, Afro-Latin Jazz
Nueva Vision - Latin Jazz From The Cuban Label EGREM / AREITO - compiled by Jazzanova and Erik Ott

The Juju Orchestra "Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime", 2008

This is The Juju Orchestra "Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime" released by Agogo in 2008. Funky Nassau is floor killer tune.

The Juju Orchestra at Myspace

Download
1. This is not a tango
2. What is hip? feat. Carolyn Leonhart & Terry Carrier
3. King of Latin rhythm
4. Take four
5. Do it again feat. Carolyn Leonhart & Robert Smith
6. El Bravo
7. Nao posso demorar feat. Katie B
8. Funky nassau