ORVIETO [Import Disc]

[Machine Translation] This is the debut release from the hot duo of Chick Corea, one of the leading jazz pianists in the world today, and Stefano Bollani, one of the leading pianists of the new generation in Europe as well as in their home country of Italy. Recorded live at the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival in Orvieto, Italy last January, this is Chick Corea's first ECM album in 27 years and one of the most important jazz albums to be released this fall. Chick Corea, who has recorded several innovative projects for ECM in the past, including a duo with Gary Burton, the Circle, and Return To Forever, records for the first time in 27 years as a powerful duo with Stefano Bollani. Improvising with two pianists is a great challenge, but with Stefano it's very inspirational and fun," says Corea. It was cold in Orvieto in the middle of winter when we recorded, but this recording was so hot, it was like summer," said Chick Corea. The band is a very good group," said Chick Corea, who has been working with Dufano for more than two years. Bollani has been listening to Chick's music since he was 11 years old, and learned "his style, phrasing, and tremendous rhythm" on his own. Chick has also been watching Bollani's playing for the past few years, and Stefano has recently written that he is most inspired by the pianist in the reissue box of "Solo Piano Improvisations/Children's Songs. Songs" box liner notes. His lively playing is full of ideas and wit. The combination of two pianists with such a wide range of experience is magical, and their imaginations work in perfect harmony. The pleasant repertoire includes Chick Corea's "Armando's Rhumba," Stefano Bollani's "A Valsa da Paula," two Jobim tunes, and a Miles Davis tune. Miles Davis' "Nardis," and Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz. Two standards, "Darn that Dream" and "If I Should Lose You," as well as blues, flamenco-influenced trad, free improvisation, and more. Bollani was born in Milan, Italy in 1972. Bollani was born in Milan in 1972. Bollani was born in Milan in 1972, and Chick Corea was born in Massachusetts in 1941 and celebrates his 70th birthday this year. Despite their different ages and experiences, they share the same hunger for performance, love of melody and jazz, open mindedness, fearlessness, and desire to play and make decisions at any given moment, creating a tremendous piano duo that will perform many concerts together in 2012. Chick Corea ( p ), Stefano Bollani ( p ), Recorded live December 29, 2010 - January 1, 2011 at Teatro Mancinelli, Orvieto ( Italy ) Produced by Manfred Eicher

Note: This is an import edition (manufactured outside of Japan).

現ジャズ界を代表する重鎮ジャズ・ピアニストの一人=Chick Coreaと本国イタリアのみならずヨーロッパを代表する新世代ピアニストの筆頭=Stefano Bollaniという大注目デュオのデビュー作。昨年の1月にイタリアのOrvietoで行われたUmbria Jazz Winter Festivalでライヴ録音した本作はなんとChick Coreaにとっては27年ぶりのECM作品でこの秋リリースされるジャズの最重要作品のひとつ。これまでもGary Burtonとのデュオ、the Circle、Return To ForeverなどイノーヴェーティヴなプロジェクトをECMで録音してきたChick Coreaが27年ぶりにStefano Bollaniとの強力デュオで録音。「2人のピアニストが一緒に即興することはとても大きな挑戦だけど、Stefanoと一緒だと、とてもインスピレーショナルで楽しいんだ。レコーディングしたときのオルヴィエートは真冬で寒かったけれど、この録音はとても熱く、夏のようだったよ。」とチック・コリア。実は彼らはもう2年以上一緒にデュエットで演奏しているが、一緒に演奏してすぐお互いにこのコンビはものすごく音楽的ポテンシャルが高いとピンときたそう。Bollaniは11歳の頃からChickの音楽を聴いてきたそうで「彼のスタイル、フレイジング、そしてとてつもないリズム」を自分で学んだので一緒に演奏できるのは本当に光栄だというが、Chickもここ数年Bollaniの演奏を見てきておりStefanoが最近もっともインスパイアを受けるピアニストだと『Solo Piano Improvisations/Children's Songs』の再発のボックスのライナーにも書いていた。活気のに満ちた演奏はアイディアとウィットに富んでいる。このとても幅広い経験をもつピアニストたちが2人揃うと魔法のような演奏が生まれ、彼らのイマジネーションの調和も見事。心地いいレパートリーはChick Coreaの“Armando's Rhumba”、Stefano Bollaniの“A Valsa da Paula”、Jobimのチューン2曲、Miles Davisの“Nardis”、さらにFats Wallerの“Jitterbug Waltz”など。スタンダードも“Darn that Dream““If I Should Lose You”と2曲、さらにブルース、フラメンコの影響を受けたトラッド、フリー・インプロヴァイズなどなど約75分盛りだくさん! Bollaniは1972年ミラノ生まれ。そしてChick Coreaは1941年マサチューセッツ生まれで今年70歳の誕生日を迎えた。年齢と経験は違えども演奏への貪欲さ、メロディーとジャズへの愛、そしてオープン・マインデッドで何をも恐れない、さらに瞬間瞬間の判断、そして演奏したいという気持ちは2人に共通している、ものすごいピアノ・デュオの誕生、2012年にはこのデュオでのコンサートをたくさん行うそう。Chick Corea (p)、Stefano Bollani (p)、Recorded live December 29, 2010 - January 1, 2011 at Teatro Mancinelli, Orvieto (Italy) Produced by Manfred Eicher