Lucianna

Personnel: Riccardo Arrighini (piano); Massimo Manzi (drums).
Liner Note Author: Paolo Piangiarelli.
Recording information: 04/07/2005.
Photographer: Luciano Rossetti.
Pianist Riccardo Arrighini's fourth CD in tribute to the late Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim avoids typical approaches to his well known compositions. With bassist Massimo Moriconi and Massimo Manzi, essentially the Philology label's house rhythm section much of the time, he transforms "So Danco Samba" into a strutting stride piano setting that would have made Willie "The Lion" Smith proud, though he eventually segues into a more bop-oriented arrangement. Arrighini is on fire in his initial interpretation of "Vivo Sonhando," buoyed by Moriconi's booming bassline and Manzi's driving percussion; the alternate take is shorter but every bit as exciting. "Insensatez" is one of Jobim's best loved songs and it has been recorded hundreds of times, yet the pianist's ruminating introduction in an expanded treatment of this standard brings it into new light. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden