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
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)
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
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".
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
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.
