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Music

Mario Rusca (quintet, nonet) – 4th Dimension

Ever since Right Tempo Records has relaunched, their catalog choices have proven to be outstanding.  Can you imagine an 86-year-old musician who has a résumé working with artists like Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz, among others, release a soul-stirring, funky album of such high quality in 2024?  Absolutely!  Mario Rusca can still lead a band, compose music that sounds both modern and reminiscent of the 1960’s and 1970’s, when he was in peak form.  A bit of a news flash here, folks – he never left his prime.  His playing is as sharp today as it was a half-century ago.  An awesome release, though, sadly, we have to wait until December for it.

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Music

Chet Baker – Chet On Poetry

We have a rescued gem courtesy of the impeccable Right Tempo! record label out of Italy, and it covers late period Chet Baker in fine form.  From the release’s Bandcamp site:

«”Chet on Poetry” is not his last record, but indeed it differs from the others and it is the best and the most charming one. Chet was in a good shape in Rome, in those Winter days, and he had the right partners. […] All those who took part in this memorable session should be praised extensively. However, space allows to mention only Nicola Stilo, flute, piano and guitar player, author of as many as four of the eight themes. Aside from being one of our best solo players, in a position to compete with the most famous musicians, Stilo is one of the musicians who succeeded in deeply grasping Chet’s art. Only few people had this privilege.» [Franco Fayenz]

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Music

Various Artists – The Congregation – Jazz Alliance International

Right Tempo Records is celebrating 30 years of existence, putting out some of the swankiest jazz imaginable, finely represented by the Easy Tempo and Tempo Jazz compilations, considered to be classics by connoisseurs of finer music.  Imagine my shock to see that the label was finally releasing material on Bandcamp, and hitting a home run on the first digital platter, which will be available on March 1.

Currently, four tracks are available for listening, are all are sublime.  Starting with Yellowtail feat. Mark Murphy – Seasons In My Mind (Patchworks Version), an unreleased track featuring Murphy in lounge mode, making me thirst for a martini while watching a crimi on TV.  Francesco Sotgiu, a new name for me, is definitely worth exploring after doing justice to Afro BlueTino Contreras, who passed away in 2021, had come back from semi-retirement to put out a classic album, La Noche De Los Dioses, on Brownswood Records and this track shows Tino at his ever-finest on the track Naboró.  The show-stealer for me, however, is Anthony Joseph’sWho Will Save The World,” which brings soulful spoken-word/singing with a spiritual jazz underpinning.  Absolutely powerful listening.  Rocco Pandiani’s ears are as golden as they were 30 years ago, and Right Tempo will continue bringing mind-blowingly good music from here on in.