Stefano Bollani is certainly one of my top 3 new generation jazz pianists. He’s italian (like the great but older Enrico Pieranunzi), very very very talented and very funny. I have seen him a couple of times and he s able to improvise on virtualy anything including prokofiev concerto s and traditionnal italian songs.
He’s releasing soon a new solo disc with the prestigious label ECM (producing already Keith Jarrett and others). To understand the talent of this brilliant guy see how he plays solo an old rag time like Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. It is simply astonishing (the rythm and syncoped dynamic is really AMAZING)
If you are not convinced (man if you re not at this stage, get away from jazz) then listen to his version of “Besame Mucho”
i saw him 1 or 2 months ago at the TIM festival in Rio (invited as well: Herbie and Ahmad Jamal, for a night session dedicated to jazz pianist).
It was great.
I personnally did not know him before so it was a great pleasure.
Posted by: orel | 07 December 2006 at 04:14 PM