Pianist Dado Moroni is essentially a self-taught player who learned by listening to a variety of artists and styles. His discography as a leader is still fairly small, though he has recorded extensively as a sideman on European CDs in addition to appearances with Americans like trumpeters Tom Harrell and Clark Terry and alto saxophonists Lee Konitz and Jesse Davis. Below are three examples of his work, including a live duo piano concert and two sessions as a sideman with up-and-coming European players.
Saxophonist Rosario Giuliani is a fast-rising star in European jazz. For his fourth Dreyfus CD AnythingElse, he composed 9 of the 12 songs and is accompanied by Moroni, trumpeter/flugelhornist Flavio Boltro, bassist Remi Vignolo and drummer Benjamin Henocq. "Blow Out" is a percolating up-tempo blues line showcasing the leader's fiery alto and Moroni's intense McCoy Tyner-like solo, followed by the relaxing samba "Danae.""Backfire" is reminiscent of the Phil Woods Quintet with Tom Harrell because of its energy, though this propulsive bop vehicle has a soulful edge in spots. Giuliani's constantly shifting solo is driven by Moroni and the rhythm section's high-octane accompaniment. The ballad "A Winter Day" opens with Moroni's dreamy piano solo, then Giuliani and Boltro (on flugelhorn) trade choruses in this engaging, nostalgic theme. Giuliani switches to soprano sax for his lively AfroCuban-flavored "Conversation" and the sentimental ballad "My Angel." The two horn players breeze through Ornette's challenging "Invisible," though Moroni's fiendish "Three Angels" is almost as demanding. The pianist also contributed the lyrical "Hagi Mystery," another piece with a Caribbean flavor, featuring Boltro's rich flugelhorn and Giuliani's impassioned alto sax.
Moroni and Enrico Pieranunzi are two of Italy's top keyboardists, so a duo concert like LiveConversations makes sense. Both men have tremendous technique, yet also have big ears, able to complement each other's improvised lines while avoiding the train wrecks that often occur when there's a personality mismatch. Their interpretation of Miles'"Solar" is unusual, incorporating a bit of stride and a long closing vamp to spice up this bop favorite. There's a brief bit of confusion as Sonny Rollins'"St. Thomas" is introduced with a bit of the standard "Someday My Prince Will Come" and their wild romp through this calypso favorite has a decidedly humorous air. The aforementioned Disney tune is up next, transformed from a quiet waltz into a turbulent blend of dissonant harmonies and Stravinsky-like chords topped by a surprise ending. A dazzling duo improvisation gradually leads into a stunning, somewhat ominous setting of "All the Things You Are," which segues into a more conventional version of "What is This Thing Called Love." The final track is a bit misleading: "Autumn Leaves" (the only tune listed), gradually unfolds from a dark improvisation into a bright performance with hints of Bill Evans. But this selection is actually a medley that detours into a dramatic workout of "Caravan" (yet also adding a brief, light-hearted lick from "Sweet Georgia Brown"), returning to the first theme and then engaging in an extended fast blues before gliding to a finish with a sly chorus of "Blue Monk."
Magone marks the debut recording as a leader for Belgian trumpeter/flugelhornist Bert Joris, a veteran member of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. His potent rhythm section includes Moroni (who provides intuitive support for the leader in addition to his top drawer solos), bassist Philippe Aerts and drummer Dre Pallemaerts. Joris primarily focuses on his originals, delving into many moods. The brooding title track (an abbreviation of "Mother is Gone") is an emotional work; the trumpeter's solo is backed by dark, sparse piano and a rock-steady rhythm like someone pacing the floor, though Moroni's free- flowing bluesy solo steals the spotlight. Joris adds his mute for "Triple," a snappy, playful vehicle dedicated to his cat. The soft, lush ballad "Anna" (named for a young girl Joris once met) showcases his rich-toned flugelhorn. The perky bop line "King Kombo" evolved from two separate commissioned works. Moroni is heard on electric piano on two numbers, including his mellow "The Mighty Bobcat" and Joris' perky "Mr. Dodo." Joris is back on flugelhorn for the gut-wrenching interpretation of "I Fall in Love Too Easily." The last selection, "Benoit," comes from a 2005 concert, a Latin number showcasing the leader's muted trumpet. - Ken Dryden
Moroni y Enrico Pieranunzi son dos de los tecladistas top de Italia, entonces un concierto de dúo como Live Conversations tiene sentido. Ambos hombres tienen una técnica enorme, y también tienen grandes oídos, capaces de complementar las líneas improvisadas de cada uno evitando los baches que a menudo ocurren cuando hay un desajuste de personalidad. Su interpretación de «Solar» de Miles, es insólita, incorporando un poco de paso grande, y un acompañamiento improvisado de cierre, para añadir un poco de picante a este favorito bop. Hay un breve bit de confusión mientras «St. Thomas» de Sonny Rollins es presentado con un poco del estándar «Someday My Prince Will Come» y su salvaje retozo a este favorito calypso, tiene un aire decididamente cómico.
La melodía de Disney ya mencionada es tomada después, transformada de un vals tranquilo en una mezcla turbulenta de armonía disonante y acordes tipo Stravinsky encabezando un final sorpresivo. Una improvisación de dúo deslumbrante, gradualmente conduce a un asombroso, algo siniestro, ajuste de «All the Things You Are», que continúa en una versión más convencional de «What is This Thing Called Love». La pista final engaña un poco: «Autumn Leaves» (el único tema mencionado en la lista), gradualmente se revela desde una improvisación oscura en una brillante perfomance con insinuaciones de Bill Evans. Pero esta selección es en realidad una mezcla con desvíos, en un entrenamiento dramático de «Caravan» (aún también con el agregado de un breve paso por «Sweet Georgia Brown»), volviendo al primer tema y luego enganchando en un rápido blues ampliado antes del planeo para finalizar con un coro de «Blue Monk».
Source: Ken Dryden / Traducción: La Bestia Políglota!
Tracks
1. Solar (M. Davis)
2. St. Thomas (S. Rollins)
3. Someday My Prince Will Come (F. Churchill)
4. All The Things You Are (J. Kern) / What Is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)
5. Autumn Leaves (J. Mercer)
DADO MORONI piano
ENRICO PIERANUNZI piano
Recorded October 11, 2005 at the Universita del Melo, Gallarate, Italy
Abeat Records – AB JZ 039 (Italy)