Sonos ‘E Memoria

Fresu - Galliano - Lundgren - Mare NostrumCD / Vinyl / digital Paolo Fresu trumpet, fluegelhorn Richard Galliano accordion, bandoneon, accordina Jan Lundgren piano What began in 2005 as an experiment – just three concerts in Sweden bringing together a triumvirate of leading figures from European jazz – has developed in the past 20 years into one of the most distinctive line-ups now defining the ‘Sound of Europe’. Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren tell musical stories through Mare Nostrum, narratives from the northernmost to southernmost points of the continent. The trio combine their influences, which range from folk, classical and popular music, with the freedom of jazz. Over the course of hundreds of concerts and through three acclaimed albums, not only has this all-star project evolved into a highly empathetic working band, the three musicians have also become close friends whose affinity and chemistry can be heard and felt on Mare Nostrum IV. The mastery of Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren is in the nuances, the way they conspire together to make beautiful and often melancholic melodies flow, in their scintillating textures, and in the music’s subtle twists and turns. There is also delight in the sheer sound, from the intent and purpose behind every single note to the unique sonic identity of the trio as a whole. On Mare Nostrum IV, the twelve pieces that Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren wrote or arranged for each other are enchanting, cinematic miniatures of Nordic melancholy and Mediterranean warmth. This is a sea of sonorities, a utopia of beauty in which people know from deep what binds them together. And that is something more valuable in our uncertain times than it ever has been before. Trumpeter Paolo Fresu is an institution in jazz from Italy of the last three decades. As a leader and sideman he has participated in over 350 recordings, several of them on ACT, starting with his music/film project Sonos ‘E Memoria in 2001, followed by now four albums in the “Mare Nostrum” series, the duo album “Summerwind” with Lars Danielsson (2018) and guest appearances on albums of Adam Bałdych, Nguyên Lê and Jens Thomas. Paolo Fresu is artistic director of the Berchidda Festival Time In Jazz and, as teacher, lead the Jazz Seminars in Nuoro (Sardinia) for 25 years. He lives between Paris, Bologna and Sardinia. Richard Galliano is a unique innovator of the accordion and a singular voice of his instrument. Encouraged by Astor Piazzolla, Galliano created the "New Musette", his version of the traditional music of his French home country, which became one of his trademarks. He has recorded more than 50 albums under his own name - in jazz, classical and various musical styles from around the world. His impressive list of collaborations includes artists such as Chet Baker, Eddy Louiss, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Serge Reggiani, Claude Nougaro, Barbara, Juliette Greco, Nigel Kennedy and various renown orchestras. Among many other prestigious awards Richard Galliano was appointed “Officer” and “Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters” by the French government. Pianist Jan Lundgren is a pioneer of European jazz, combining classical music, folk traditions, American jazz and improvisation. This becomes evident on "Mare Nostrum", his own trio and their view of "European Standards" and "Swedish Standards", fusions of Renaissance choral music and jazz on "Magnum Mysterium" and various recordings together with Nils Landgren, Hans Backenroth, Wolfgang Haffner, Lars Danielsson or Emile Parisien. Jan Lundgren is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, was the first Scandinavian jazz artist to perform at Carnegie Hall and founded the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival in 2010, which quickly became a major European jazz event.Credits Recorded and mixed by Rémi Bourcereau at Studio La Menuiserie, France, on September 30th, October 1st, and October 2nd, 2024, mastered at Studio Sequenza by Thomas Vingtrinier. Cover art by Martin Assig, “Berg” (detail), 2023

Various Artists - Magic Moments 15: In the Spirit of JazzCD / digitalBest jazz infotainment for the 30th anniversary of ACT: 16 tracks, 65 minutes of music in the spirit of jazz, featuring artists like Nils Landgren, Emile Parisien & Theo Croker, Iiro Rantala, Vincent Peirani Trio, Michael Wollny Trio, Joel Lyssarides, Jakob Manz & Johanna Summer, and more.Credits: Compilation by Siggi Loch Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Adam Bałdych - PoetryCD / Vinyl / digital Adam Bałdych violin, renaissance violin Paolo Fresu trumpet, flugelhorn Marek Konarski tenor saxophone Krzysztof Dys piano Michał Barański double bass Dawid Fortuna drums Chance remarks can have far-reaching consequences. When Adam Bałdych was in the early stages of working on the composi-tions for this new album, among the first feedback he received from a friend was the phrase “you are a poet of the violin.” That remark didn’t just give him the title of the album. It also set him thinking about the effect that music has on him and that, by extension, it can hopefully have on other people... Bałdych, described by Jazzwise’s Stuart Nicholson as “probably the greatest violinist in jazz today,” explains that impulse quite simply: "I want to communicate." He has a strong desire, as he explains, to “create music which will come into people’s lives and stay with them.” Such beliefs have been reinforced and seemingly made more urgent by the detachment of the pandemic. He started asking himself the question: “What is there in my life story that I can share?” And that in turn led him to search for other lyrical and poetic voices, kindred spirits to place alongside his own. Thus we find one of the great lyrical voices of European jazz, Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, of whom Bałdych says: “This soul connection is the basic and most important thing, which can then be expressed in the music.” Fresu is on five tunes, most notably on the title track “Poetry”, a true gem at the heart of this programme. We also hear a saxophonist with whom Baldych feels a particularly strong affinity, Marek Konarski. Both musicians grew up in the same town, Gorzów, roughly ten years apart.Their paths diverged in the years Konarski made his home in Denmark, where he is still involved in several projects. Bałdych says: “He is younger than me, but we have so much in common I sometimes feel we must have known each other in a past life.” That sense that this group is producing music which is rooted in a past reality is there right from the opening track, “I Remember”. The decision to place his own solo voice alongside others in “Poetry” marks a further step in Baldych’s musical journey, away from virtuosity towards the kind of authentic individual expression that feels most natural to him. “I stopped trying to be a virtuoso producing huge numbers of notes. I want to tell a story, and to shape and balance simplicity with the innovative language of the violin.” He has also - literally - deepened his musical voice, through the use of the renaissance violin, tuned a seventh below the normal violin. That sonorous voice has become more confident, and is to be heard at its most yearning and soulful on the deeply touching short tune "Grace". “Poetry” is also a landmark album for Bałdych in another sense. It is about to be ten years since his appearance at a late night show at the Quasimodo club as part of JazzFest Berlin in 2011. That performance, which also included pianist Krzysztof Dys, now part of Bałdych’s regular band, led to Siggi Loch signing the violinist the very next day to the ACT label, This is the Pole's sixth album for the label. There have been other changes in Bałdych’s life in the past year. The album is dedicated to the violinist’s wife Karina, and to his young son Teodor who was born in 2020. Time not spent on the road has clearly had its compensations, and when Baldych talks, his deeply positive spirit shines through: “Troubles give the opportunity to do things you wouldn’t normally do. I have an improviser’s soul.” Adam Bałdych also feels a very strong connection to the regular quartet he has worked with for the past three years. Krzysztof Dys on piano, Michał Barański on bass, Dawid Fortuna on drums and Bałdych himself worked successfully together on “Sacrum Profanum”. Over the past three years the trust and the teamwork have deepened, and the way they dovetail together on “Poetry” shows that they are a working band in the truest sense of that phrase. “We really explore together, we work on the music like a string quartet does,” he says. And the listener can hear in tracks such as “I Remember” and “Open Sky” with their folk music energy, just how eager this band is to stretch out on these tunes in the live context. And audiences are responding too: the quartet scooped up the audience prize at the July 2021 BMW Jazz Welt Competition. Adam Bałdych has marked the tenth anniversary of his arrival at ACT with an important album. “Poetry” is not just instantly appealing, it also has depth, honesty and soul.Credits: Music written, arranged & produced by Adam Bałdych, except Hyperballad, composed by Björk Recorded by Ignacy Gruszecki at Monochrom Studio, June 18 & 19, 2021 Mixed and mastered by Piotr Taraszkiewicz Piano tuned by Zbigniew Wajdzik

Various Artists - Fahrt ins Blaue III - dreamin in the spirit of jazzCD / digital Esbjörn Svensson E.S.T. Symphony Youn Sun Nah, Ulf Wakenius & Lars Danielsson Wolfgang Haffner Quartet feat. Dusko Goykovich Nils Landgren Quartet Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano &Jan Lundgren Julian & Roman Wasserfuhr, Tim Lefebvre & Nate Wood Viktoria Tolstoy Cæcilie Norby & Lars Danielsson Matthieu Saglio &Vincent Peirani Ulf Wakenius Norah Jones, Joel Harrison & David Binney Jan Lundgren Quartet Michael Wollny & Vincent Peirani Natalia Mateo Jens Thomas & Christof Lauer Daydreams and soothing stories...in the Spirit of Jazz "There's a place for us, somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air wait for us. Somewhere…". These words from the classic song from Leonard Bernstein's “West Side Story” set the tone for "Fahrt ins Blaue III - dreamin' in the Spirit of Jazz": this is uplifting music, to take the mind and the soul to a place of safety. The kind of quiet interlude in a day which is always restorative. Switch off and then switch back on – better focused. We find calm, intimacy, thoughtfulness here; the sixteen tracks in this compilation have a sense of flow, while also allowing the listener to wander off into all kinds of musical dream worlds....From the very first spacious piano tones of Esbjörn Svensson’s "Ajar", one feels time standing blissfully still. This little gem, and the "e.s.t. Prelude" which follows it, is our entry point into the dreamy universe which will open itself up to us over the next 67 minutes. Youn Sun Nah's bittersweet "Lento", based on the music of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, gently emerges, seamlessly followed by Dusko Goykovich’s wonderfully warm and sad muted trumpet as he contemplates the falling of "Autumn Leaves" with Wolfgang Haffner's "Kind of Cool" ensemble. Then we hear singer/trombonist Nils Landgren, gentle almost to the point of weightlessness in "Somewhere". There is poetry and the originality in Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundg-ren’s Mare Nostrum Trio: we hear Swedish pianist Lundg-ren’s earwormish ballad “Aurore”. Lundgren also appears with his own quartet, with some hushed lyrical magic from Finnish saxophonist Jukka Perko in "No.9". On "Fahrt ins Blaue III", Michael Wollny and Vincent Peirani show their astonishing kinship of spirit and their serendipitous ability to move together in their duetting on "The Kiss". Accordionist Peirani is also to be heard with Ricardo Esteve’s heart-rendingly lovely flamenco guitar and cellist Matthieu Saglio on the poignantly sad but uplifting and warmly Mediterranean "Bolero triste". We then hear the Wasserfuhr brothers transport us to New York's Brooklyn Bridge with a sweeping view of the shimmering Manhattan skyline at dusk with their relaxed grooving jazz ballad "Carlo". For peace and inspiration, there’s a man and his guitar: Ulf Wakenius plays Keith Jarrett's "My Song". That is followed by the duo of Caecilie Norby and Lars Danielsson enchanting us with an intimate version of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah”. Two more singers take us to the world of cinema: Natalia Mateo sings Wojciech Młynarski's gorgeous lyrics to Krzysztof Komeda’s “Lullaby” from "Rosemary's Baby", starting in her native Polish, and drifting into utterly beautiful wordlessness; and Viktoria Tolstoy offers that most pensive and gentle of breakup songs, "Why Should I Care". from the Clint Eastwood film "True Crime", with some stupendous guitar work from Krister Jonsson. And then there is an appearance by inimitable Norah Jones alongside guitarist Joel Harrison and saxophonist David Binney. She recorded a languid version of the country song "Tennessee Waltz" on ACT, on the album "Free Country", from the same era as her 27 million-seller "Come Away With Me". Pianist Jens Thomas and saxophonist Christof Lauer give us the quiet poise of “Green Dance”. This epilogue sums up the aesthetic of "Fahrt ins Blaue III": dreamlike music of beauty, tranquillity and calm – that it is well worth spending some time with. Credits:Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Various Artists - Romantic Freedom - Blue in GreenCD / digitalACT is a label with a clear sense of its own identity, values and mission, and these virtues find strong expression in this new compilation. ACT has been a major force since 1992 in bringing to the fore Euro-pean jazz which transcends the old genre boundaries, and has played a major part in helping this music to become far better known in its many and varied forms. This is in fact the second compilation album from the label to bear the motto “Romantic Freedom”. Back in 2006, fourteen years after the label was founded, the first album with this title focused on performances by solo pianists, a particularly strong area for ACT. Now, another fourteen years on, "Romantic Freedom - Blue in Green" brings the story and the message up to date - and does so in several fascinating ways.The ACT family continues to grow with the addition of fascinating artists from all over Europe, so it is fitting that David Helbock, a pianist who has only recently risen to prominence beyond his native Austria, and whose association with ACT started in 2016, should be given the honour of starting the album with his Random Control Trio in a moodily, atmospheric version of the modal Miles Davis/Bill Evans ballad “Blue in Green”. Another pianist who has only recently made his album is Carsten Dahl from Denmark. Dahl's “Sailing with no Wind” has calm, balance and great beauty. And for contrast there is the catchy, rock-inspired immediacy of the Stockholm-based Jacob Karl-zon Trio in “Bubbles”. The nurturing of fruitful dialogue across national borders and styles of music is a real strength at ACT, and is a key feature of "Romantic Freedom - Blue in Green". As Chris Pearson of The Times of London reflected in early 2020: “Since 1992 Act, the German label, has been building its own European union of musicians, fostering a freedom of movement between nationalities and genres.” It is worth noting that, whereas almost half of the pianists on the 2006 album were from North America, all the musicians apart from three on the new album were born in Europe. A band which epitomizes civilized conversation across borders, indeed has it at its very core is Mare Nostrum, the trio of Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano und Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren. They play Michel Legrand’s “The Windmills of Your Mind” . Fresu’s appealing and warm flugelhorn sound is to also be heard irresistibly on Komeda’s “Sleep Safe and Warm” (also known as “Rosemary’s Lullaby”) in duo with Lars Danielsson. We also hear the very different heritages of Polish violinist Adam Bałdych and French/Israeli pianist Yaron Herman as the pair create and then release tension in “Riverendings”, the first of two tracks on this album featuring a violin.Musicians from Europe walk, quite literally, in the footsteps of the great classical composers. The young German pianist Johanna Summer, the youngest musician on this album and rapidly becoming a star of the label was born in Saxony very near Zwickau, the birthplace of Robert Schumann’s. She is heard here in her affecting “instant com-posing” version of Schumann’s “Of Foreign Lands And People” from “Scenes of Childhood”. David Helbock lived for some years in Vienna, and in “Beethoven #7, 2nd Movement”, we hear the Austrian in a delicate and thoughtful version on prepared piano. Norwegians pia-nist Bugge Wesseltoft and violinist Henning Kragerrud have a deep feeling for the melodic beauty of their compatriot Grieg’s “Våren” (Last Spring). ACT is home for pianists with a central role in European jazz in recent decades, such as Michael Wollny, Joachim Kühn, Leszek Możdżer. All three (and also Bugge Wesseltoft) were represented on the 2006 and the listener can reflect on the journey they have travelled over the decades with a label that above all help to ensure that their reputati-ons can build beyond their home countries. Michael Wollny’s “Little Person”, a cover of Jon Brion’s song from the film “Synecdoche, New York.” is quietly reflective with a gentle pulse and a deliciously open ending. We also hear Wollny on prepared piano accompanying another core member of the ACT artist family, Nils Landgren on both vocals and trombone), in Sting’s “Fragile”. We have the decisively carefree and rocky side of Joachim Kühn’s New Trio in “Sleep on it”. On this compilation we go back to the beginning and hear the very first track from “Pasodoble” Leszek_Możdżer’s 2007 debut on ACT: “Praying” in a duo with Lars Danielsson. Another massively influential figure in European jazz, and until his untimely death in 2008 a core member of the ACT label family was the late Esbjörn Svensson. He was also on the 2006 album. We hear an e.s.t. track which has become a classic, “Believe Beleft Below”, and also a homage to the Swedish visionary from another pianist who has revealed many sides of his character and his story on the ACT label, the Finn Iiro Rantala, who plays his heartfelt tribute “Tears For Esbjörn”. If we now know what European jazz is, that is at least in part because ACT has shaped an important part of its story. "Romantic Freedom - Blue in Green" shows how appealing, how approachable and how universal European jazz at its best can be. Credits: Curated by Siggi Loch Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Various Artists - Magic Moments 12CD / digitalOne World Of Music. The ACT label has jazz at its core, and an openness to all kinds of musical directions: pop, rock, the music of singer-songwriters and traditional folkloric forms such as flamenco and tango. These very different genres nonetheless never fail to find new and magical ways to work together. The twelfth Magic Moments compilation presents exciting music "in the Spirit of Jazz". All kinds of pleasure await the listener during its 71 minutes. And what can one expect to hear in this world so far away from a single predetermined style? There are surprises, obviously. Plus several chances to reconnect with established and familiar stars. And discoveries of some genuinely exciting newcomers. The opening track is from Iiro Rantala on solo piano. His portrait of the month of "August" is from "My Finnish Calendar", an album which sets to music the course of an entire year in his home country from a very personal point of view. Argentinian tango is a prime example of a musical tradition which is not just lively but is also constantly developing. The Javier Girotto Trio proves the point in "Deus Xango" from "Tango Nuevo Revisited", a contemporary reimagining of the Piazzolla/Mulligan classic album from 1975. "Four top-league jazz musicians who just enjoy playing". That description by the TV programme ZDF today Journal) defines exactly what "4WD" is all about. The four bandleaders involved are Nils Landgren, Mi-chael Wollny, Lars Danielsson and Wolfgang Haffner). Each of them is in equal control and they all set the direction of the group. "Flamenco and jazz are brothers," says Spanish piano newcomer Daniel García. In his energetic trio with special guest Jorge Pardo, he shows just how true that statement is with the fiery "Travesuras". French accordionist Vincent Peirani and his wife Serena Fisseau then create a familiar musical refuge: "What A Wonderful World" is a paean to silence. A duo of newcomers to the label, Grégoire Maret and Edmar Castaneda create new and exciting sound worlds. In "Harp vs. Harp" harmonica meets harp. This is indeed a special and rare pairing; "Blueserinho" absolutely needs to be heard. With his "Italian Songbook" trumpeter Luca Aquino has recorded a homage to the music of his homeland. Here is "Scalinatella" by film composer Giuseppe Cioffi in an affecting version for trio with the Italian piano star Danilo Rea and accordionist Natalino Marchetti. Singer Cæcilie Norby unites musicians from several generations and countries on "Sisters in Jazz". Her composition "Naked In The Dark" demonstrates that jazz is far from being only about men. "Klinken" comes from the debut album "Stax" by the 25-year-old drummer Max Stadtfeld, a release in the Young German Jazz series. Stadtfeld and his comrades-in-arms have no truck with intellectuality, they move in the rhythm-oriented mainstream and yet point beyond it. With freshness and astonishing maturity this quartet thrills and excites. For over 10 years the successful trio Mare Nostrum with Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundgren has been the epitome of the sound of Europe. All three musi-cians have a quite fabulous sense of the lyrical and poetic which is again very much to the fore in their third album; Magic Moments 12 has the Swedish "Ronneby". As the magazine Galore writes of German jazz icon Joachim Kühn. “He interprets Ornette Coleman's music in his very own way: lyrically, gently and introvertedly, but full of surprising details." Kühn relives the unique story of his work alongside one of the legends of jazz here with "Lost Thoughts", a piece never recorded before. On 6 February 2019, jazz baroness Pannonica (Nica) de Koenigswarter (1913-1988) received a posthumous tribute for her tireless commitment to jazz in a concert at the Philharmonie in Berlin. The focus was on pieces by musicians whom Pannonica had supported over so many years with money, accommodation, advice and friendship, and who often dedicated compositions to her in gratitude, "Little Butterly" by Thelonious Monk for example. The New York singer Charenée Wade is in the limelight here, accompanied by Iiro Rantala, Dan Berglund and Anton Eger, with the American saxophone titan Ernie Watts. "An Israeli power trio. Heavy Jazz," Rolling Stone wrote of Shalosh. And when you hear the frenzied "After The War" it is obvious why: rock and indie jazz combine to form a mix which is full of tension and excitement. Violinist Adam Baldych is a supremely talented virtuoso. Stereo Magazine has described him as "one of the most technically brilliant interpreters of improvised music". "Longing" from his album "Sacrum Profanum" is a searingly sad ballad, sensitively interpreted in a duo with pianist Krzysztof Dys. On "Painted Music" the pianist Carsten Dahl gives his own highly personal take on classics of the jazz repertoire. The traditional Danish folk song "Jeg gik mig ud en sommerdag" (I went out on a summer’s day) is the sound of summer. At the end of “Magic Moments 12”, Nguyên Lê's piece "Hippocampus" reminds us of "One World Of Music", the theme of the compilation. The French guitarist of Vietnamese ancestry is a musical wayfarer between cultures who combines the freedom of jazz with influences from rock and world music.Credits: Compilation by Siggi Loch Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Jan Lundgren - Mare Nostrum IIICD / Vinyl / digital Paolo Fresu trumpet, fluegelhorn Richard Galliano accordion, bandoneon, accordina Jan Lundgren piano The old saying that ‘all good things come in threes’ might be a cliché with no particular logic to it, but as a way to describe the virtues of Mare Nostrum, it’s right on the money. Twelve years ago, Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren, all from the upper echelons of European jazz, formed their trio. Each has his roots in the musical tradition of his home country, and each has used it to develop his own musical language. These are musicians who bring their individuality and inspiration to a multitude of projects in modern jazz, and so transcend borders and connect genres. All three men have poetry in their playing. Their love of melody binds them together, and does so more than ever in this new third album. In fact, "Mare Nostrum III" completes a trilogy of albums. Right from the beginning of their decade-long collaboration, the group has had the idea of recording an album in each of their home countries. They made the first in Italy in 2007, and it took these busy musicians until 2016 to go to France and to record the second. Their third destination was Sweden, and the Nilento Studio in Gothenburg. "Once again,” says René Hess, the Swiss producer of the album, says, "it was a pure pleasure to see the sheer ease with which Paolo, Richard and Jan can create such great music." The first thing the listener notices is the natural, spontaneous way the thread of the musical conversation unfolds. Their affinity in soul and spirit is immediately recognizable. This group of equals is a version of Europe which is united, democratic, and brings everything together. Each of the three contributed four original compositions plus a favourite piece. It is mostly possible to work out by listening who has written the pieces, and yet the trio translates into a common language; it’s a language which all have a thorough understanding of, and a genuine feeling for. The album begins with Richard Galliano's "Blues sur Seine". It’s a plaintive piano melody reminiscent of Satie, or possibly Grieg. It’s joined by a veiled trumpet line before high notes from a lamenting accordion take over. Paris is in there, but so are fjords, Mediterranean shores and Basin Street in New Orleans. The whole thing is pure simplicity and enchantment. Characteristically Italian pathos then emerges in Fresu's "Pavese", in a natural frame of spontaneous soundscapes. Lundgren's "Love Land" has lively, cheerfully intertwining voices and a catchy theme that conjures up the magic of Swedish folklore. Then all three bring their persuasive lyricism to two of the most bittersweet melodies ever written, Michel Legrand's "The Windmills Of Your Mind" and Eduardo Di Capua's "I'te vurria vasà". Three pieces follow that in each case deal with a very personal memory. With the wonderful "Le Jardin des Fées", Richard Galliano honours the memory of his compatriot and friend, the much-missed great jazz violinist Didier Lockwood. In "Del Soldato in trincea" Paolo Fresu recalls one of his favourite films, Ermanno Olmi's "Torneranno i prati". And Jan Lundgren strolls through the streets of "Ronneby", the small Swedish town where he grew up, with a strongly rhythmic blues-infused folk music melody. All three then bring Quincy Jones' love theme from the film "The Getaway" back to their own shores. Then follows Fresu’s concentrated "Human Requiem", played entirely on muted trumpet, and the slow sustained concentration of Galliano's "Letter To My Mother". In the final tracks, Lundgren's "The Magic Stroll", reminiscent of the musicals, and Richard Galliano's classically inspired "Prayer", with the feel of rolling along on the waves of the ocean, these three exceptional musicians have found a perfect symbiosis. With "Mare Nostrum III", Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundgren have once again created a wonderful ballad album. Through their music they rise way above that old discussion about whatever "jazz" might be nowadays. What they have achieved instead is to bring the sound of Europe to life.Credits: Produced by René Hess / HR Music Recorded (May 28 - 30, 2018), mixed and mastered by Lars Nilsson at Nilento Studio, Gothenburg Cover art by Federico Herrero

Magic Moments 1167 minutes of pure listening pleasure: The eleventh edition of the popular Magic Moments offers a comprehensive insight into our latest ACT releases with newcomers, ACT stars and real insider tips at a special price. Among others with Michael Wollny, David Helbock, Vincent Peirani, Iiro Rantala, Joachim Kühn New Trio, Ida Sand, Lars Danielsson & Paolo Fresu and many more.Credits:Compilation by Siggi Loch Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann Manufacturer 

Lars Danielsson - SummerwindLars Danielsson bass & cello Paolo Fresu trumpet & flugelhorn  Some people talk a lot, whereas others keep hold of what is important, and only need a few words to get to their point. The same is true in music. Lars Danielsson and Paolo Fresu, who have now teamed up, are two musicians who choose the notes they play with extreme care. “Summerwind”, their first joint studio project, brings the Swedish master bassist/cellist’s gorgeous sound on both instruments and his fine sense for simple and haunting melodies into a partnership with the bright, airy tones of one of Europe's most lyrical trumpeters whose way of “playing it cool” has such distinctive expressiveness. Together, Danielsson and Fresu don’t just create atmosphere and colour; there is also feeling here – and real depth. Both the music and the interplay between these players are, one might say, ‘such stuff as dreams are made on.’ The duo context offers extensive space for the players to let their musical ideas develop. Yet the decisive element for both of these musicians is not that they should play a lot, but that the focus should remain on what they play. Fewer notes are far more effective than many, and that is how the poetry develops from both instrumentalists as they create a mood that is almost meditative. “It's about doing the right thing at the right time,” says Lars Danielsson. “That's the challenge of playing in a duo. You can't hide behind other instruments in this configuration.” Danielsson speaks from a long experience of having worked in this format, notably with the Polish pianist Leszek Możdżer (on the album “Pasodoble”) or with the singer Cæcilie Norby (on the album “Just The Two Of Us”). Paolo Fresu is also a master at making every moment count. His work as part of the international Mare Nostrum Trio with French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren bears impressive testament to this. (Note: only two weeks after the recording with Danielsson, Fresu came back to Nilento Studio just south of Gothenburg with this trio to record the third Mare Nostrum album, which will be released in Spring 2019).  “I love Paolo's playing, it's spiritual and his sound is unique. He makes me improvise in a new way,” Danielsson says of his duo partner, with whom he was working for the first time in a studio on “Summerwind”.  Producer Siggi Loch had the idea of bringing these two musicians into the studio together. He has a knack for identifying musical soulmates, and this collaboration proves it again: the pair built up an almost telepathic relationship during the recording. That feeling is palpable, for example, in the piece “Dardusó”, which was created spontaneously in the studio, and in which all of Danielsson’s and Fresu’s combined trust is given over to the wisdom of the moment. In addition to pieces composed especially for this duo by both musicians, “Summerwind” features interpretations of especially selected and well-known originals, from a Bach cantata to a Swedish folk song to film music by Krzysztof Komeda. In “Summerwind”, enchanting melodies flow with an instinctive and natural grace and elegance. They develop in long arcs which bring a sense of profundity and contemplation. In a world in constant danger of overheating, Danielsson's and Fresu’s music is a fresh and soothing breeze. Credits:Recorded at Nilento Studio, Gothenburg, May 14-15, 2018  Recorded, mixed and mastered by Lars Nilsson  Produced by Siggi Loch  Cover art by Olav Christopher Jenssen: Journal July 30th. 2011 / ACT Art Collection 

Various Artists - Monteverdi in the Spirit of  JazzCD / digitalaolo Fresu, Richard Galliano & Jan Lundgren Richie Beirach, Gregor Huebner & George Mraz Michael Riessler, Vincent Courtois & Singer Pur Jan Lundgren, Lars Danielsson & The Gustaf Sjökvist Chamber Choir Danilo Rea & Flavio Boltro Michael Wollny TrioWhen Richie Beirach recorded his 2002 album “Round About Monteverdi”, it made him reflect: "I’ve been involved with music for my whole life,” he said, “but this was something I knew very little about.” Such reflections are not uncommon; Claudio Monteverdi is one of those figures in the development of music whose role was crucial, yet whose presence is shadowy. 2017 would have marked his 450th birthday: the composer, singer and viola da gamba player was born in May 1567 in Cremona in Northern Italy. Active in the twilight of the renaissance, Monteverdi was an innovator in vocal music as it moved forward into the baroque. He didn’t invent opera - he was born just a few decades too late - but was the first composer to really take it to its heights. He was a visionary, yet his star waned after his death, and he only re-appeared properly in the sights of musicologists and performers in the twentieth century … and of jazz musicians too: Beirach admitted astonishment at the freshness, depth and genius of this music: “I had no idea there was so much happening during this epoch. I’d always thought that Johann Sebastian Bach had begun something new. Now it’s clear to me that Bach is the culmination of what Monteverdi and his contemporaries had worked on.” Five pieces from Beirach’s album with Gregor Huebner and George Mraz - now out of print for some years - form the connective tissue of this album saluting the Monteverdi anniversary “in the spirit of jazz”. Beirach’s ingenuity in adapting Monteverdi’s vivid compositions for a jazz piano trio is, however, just a part of the story. German a capella group Singer Pur bring the epitome of poised choral singing to “Amor - Lamento della Ninfa”, accompanied by bass clarinettist Michael Riessler and cellist Vincent Courtois. And an opera album obviously needs ist Italians: Pianist Danilo Rea and trumpeter Flavio Boltro make their instruments sing from the heart in the “Toccata From Orfeo” and “Lasciatemi morire”. Radiant, magical classicism with just a glimpse of modernity prevails in “Se nel partir da voi” from pianist Jan Lundgren with Lars Danielsson and the Gustaf Sjökvist Chamber Choir. Lundgren is also in the Mare Nostrum trio, with Paolo Fresu on trumpet and accordionist Richard Galliano. They imbue “Si dolce è il tormento” with the spirit and the heritage of European folk music. And finally there is Michael Wollny. At the sessions for the immensely popular album “Weltentraum”, he and his trio recorded an adaptation of the “Lamento d’Arianna”, which epitomizes the coruscating power of current European jazz. In this age of the cloud, Monteverdi still has much to offer us.Credits:Music composed by Claudio Monteverdi Curated by Siggi Loch Mastered by Johannes Wohlleben at Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg Artwork © Uwe Kowski, Selber, 2015 / ACT Art Collection, courtesy Galerie EIGEN + ART Leipzig/Berlin

 Nguyên Lê -  Hà Nội DuoCD / digital Nguyên Lê guitars & programming Ngô Hồng Quang vocals, Vietnamese fiddle, monocorde, lute & jew’s harp Paolo Fresu trumpet & flugelhorn Mieko Miyazaki koto Prabhu Edouard tablas, kanjira & pocket shaker Nguyên Lê's new album, which will be released on ACT on January 2017 features a new collaboration - Hà Nôi Duo - with Ngô Hồng Quang. Nguyên Lê defines what lies at the heart of this collaboration: “Ngô Hồng Quang and I are two Vietnamese musicians whose upbringing and musical education and evolution could not have followed more different paths. And yet we have found that we both share common goals: to express and to share the soul of Vietnam with the wider world, to bring together the roots and the future of Vietnamese music. Vietnam as a country is evolving so fast and so brilliantly, its population is full of so much youthful vigour, curiosity, and a deep hunger to learn everything possible from the West. But at the same time, many people feel a vital need never to forget the past.” “In this album we - as musicians - live through those paradoxes. The album shows the diversity of what Vietnamese music can be today. Like the country itself, this album aspires to be colourful, plural and moving. We want to excite the ear and engage the intellect – and to bring the listener closer to the soul of Vietnam.” “Quang is a great example of what I would call the 'traditional musicians of today.' Virtuosos from elsewhere who carry & embody the tradition of their country at its deepest level. But because they are young, they are also impressively open. They want to share their identity with the whole world, to learn from the West without denying their past. They can play contemporary music on their traditional instruments. They can integrate into new musical situations while remaining themselves. Being modern doesn't replace tradition, but brings tradition to a new level of liveliness.” This is Nguyên Lê's 18th album in the role of either leader or co-leader and a continuation & development of several previous CDs on ACT: five albums about Vietnam, recorded with traditional singer Huong Thanh, TALES FROM VIET-NAM (1996), MOON & WIND (1999), DRAGONFLY (2001), MANGUSTAO (2004) et FRAGILE BEAUTY (2007); the meeting of traditional music virtuosos around an 'Asia without borders' concept, SAIYUKI (2009); HOMESCAPE (2006), the intimate experience of a duo transcended by home-studio magic & the re-composition process over spontaneous improvisations. Nguyên Lê explains more of the background: “With this 'Asia without borders' concept in mind, it seemed obvious to me that I should invite back my partners, my musical brothers & sisters, from those previous two albums.” “So, what an absolute pleasure to welcome back the grace of Japanese koto player Mieko Miyazaki, the rhythmic intelligence of Indian tabla player Prabhu Edouard as well as the supreme melodic gifts of Sardinian trumpet playerPaolo Fresu!” “My previous 'Vietnamese' records with Huong Thanh were different from this new one. They were very much based on re-written traditional songs. This was music I wanted to share, but in a way that would chime with western ears. After nearly fifty tunes handled this way, the emphasis has now shifted. These are personal, original compositions, but they are also written as a in a way that extends and prolongs our combined musical heritage.” About the individual tracks, Nguyên Lê writes: In my tune “Five Senses,” a melody written by a jazzman is performed and becomes transformed by the timbres and accents of traditional Asian instruments. “Tình đàn,” is written by Quang, inspired by the Tày mountain minorities, and is tinged with new colours by my North African-sounding acoustic guitar, which reaches back to “Maghreb & Friends”, recorded in 1998. “Monkey Queen” is another tune of mine, written during the Monkey Têt. Here, two sorts of Đàn Bầu (monocorde) single-stringed instruments are conversing with each other: the opening of the piece is an improvisation on electric guitar with the bent harmonics technique that I learnt in Hà Nôi in 1979; the other is the real Vietnamese traditional instrument, playing a non-traditional melody, later performed on vocals. “Chiếc Khăn Piêu,” written by Doãn Nho in the 70's, is dressed with a new arrangement in 5 beats (Vietnamese music is always in 2 or 4 beats!) & with an Indian rhythm orchestration, co-written with Prabhu Edouard. “Muc Ha Vô Nhân,” is a song in the northern Xẩm style, from wandering blind beggars music from 14th century. Here it finds a new Blues brother, this one being surely more North American. Summing up this album, Nguyên Lê writes: “In this new Hà Nôi Duo, each of our identities stays strong and individual, but each of us also approaches the collaboration with a complete openness of spirit, the desire to soak up and enrich the whole with intricate subtlety. At any moment, this music will raise numerous questions. Is it Vietnamese? Or jazz? Or traditional music, blues, African, Indian... is it written - or is it improvised?” “Like threads of silk, cultures from yesterday and today weave a complex and diverse beauty. That complexity and diversity are part of the essence of the country of Vietnam, with its millennial roots, its tormented past and future full of hope. They also take us to the heart of life itself .”Credits:Produced, recorded & mixed by Nguyên Lê at studio Louxor, Paris Barbès from April to August 2016 Mastered by Bruno Gruel at Elektra Mastering Executive Producer: Siggi Loch

Various Artists - Magic Moments 9 "In The Spirit of Jazz"CD / digitalPresenting the 9th edition of ACT's popular Magic Moments series. This CD presents sixty-five minutes of the best of current jazz. Thoughtful moments sit alongside pure joy and entertainment. Coruscating energy is there, but serene contemplation too. With established ACT stars and promising newcomers, this is music for open ears, for the mind and soul. And for everyone who loves good music. “Jazz is the freedom to play anything.” At ACT, we let those words of Duke Ellington resonate through everything we do. Our releases do not adhere to a single musical canon or to a fixed sound aesthetic. Our motto is: “in the spirit of jazz.” Jazz is at the centre of our vision, because we delight in its openness to so many strands and inspirations: classical music, music from other traditions, and pop and rock. Magic Moments 9 opens with a homage straight from the heart to a person we all miss in the ACT family; the first track is a symphonic interpretation of the e.s.t. piece “From Gagarin’s Point Of View,” remembering pianist Esbjörn Svensson. “ACT seems to be on a mission to introduce the world to Europe's rising new jazz-classical pianists”, wrote John Fordham in The Guardian a couple of years ago. We have continued further along that path and Magic Moments 9 offers vivid reports from some places where that continuing journey has taken us. We take in Schloss Elmau in Bavaria, where the new duo CD by Michael Wollny and accordionist Vincent Peirani was recorded. From their album we hear “The Kiss.” Plus we travel to Austria and then to Martinique: two piano players who are both making their hugely promising debuts on the label are David Helbock and Grégory Privat. We also hear from two pianists of renown: the 'old master' Joachim Kühn is joined by his 'young lions' Eric Schaefer (drums) and Chris Jennings (bass) for a refreshing take on “Sleep on it,” a reggae-dub number by the French band Stand High Patrol. Iiro Rantala is on fine form in the “super-trio” with Lars Danielsson and Peter Erskine. They play Kenny Barron's “Voyage” with a Finnish lightness of touch. Der Tagesspiegel wrote of the “Jazz at the Berlin Philharmonic” concerts: “This is jazz history in the making”. We have released recordings of two further completely memorable evenings in one of Europe’s great halls: in “Tears for Esbjörn,” a group consisting of stars of the ACT label unite to pay homage to Esbjörn Svensson. In “Celtic Roots” we set off into the swirling mists of the North, in search of the Celtic influences on jazz. ACT is the place to hear European sounds. A good example is the new Mare Nostrum recording, seven years after the first. In the track “Kristallen den fina,” Jan Lundgren und Paolo Fresu have combined the musical hues of Sweden and of Italy, and the results are magical. For more than 20 years, Nils Landgren has been setting the agenda for European jazz like no other musician. His project “Some Other Time” also draws its inspiration from the other side of the Atlantic. He pays tribute to the great Leonard Bernstein, deploying all of the rich textural possibilities offered by the Bochum Symphony Orchestra. Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren, with a classical string quartet honours one of the great pioneers of Swedish jazz, Jan Johansson. In “Lycklig resa” (meaning 'bon voyage'). The extraordinary encounter of the guitarists Gerardo Núñez from Spain and Ulf Wakenius from Sweden demonstrates what can happen when an intercultural musical exchange really delivers the goods. The interplay, the sense of flow generated by three Scandinavians Lars Danielsson (b), Marius Neset (sax) und Morten Lund (dr) in their album “sun blowing” is “a testament to the power of spontaneity and trust” (Irish Times) - evident in the track “Folksong.” The Finn Jukka Perkko and a new “strong and distinctively touching voice” (Jazz Magazine) from France Lou Tavano also make their mark, and contribute to the richness of the ACT label's offering of characterful European sounds. Magic Moments 9, packed with all kinds of excitement and emotion, not only captures an up-to-the-minute snapshot of European jazz in the many different forms it exists today, but also offers a glimpse into its future.Credits: Compilation by Siggi Loch Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Various Artists - Fahrt ins Blaue Nguyên Lê &Paolo Fresu, Lars Danielsson feat. Jan Bang, Wolfgang Haffner, Bugge Wesseltoft, Jacob Karlzon 3, e.s.t. Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Cæcilie Norby, Oddjob, Frank Woeste, Viktoria Tolstoy feat. Nils Landgren, Ida Sand feat. Jan Lundgren, Nils Landgren Funk Unit, McJazz [directed by Annette Humpe & Anselm Kluge], Roberto Di Gioia's Marsmobil feat. Johannes Enders, Tonbruket, Michael Wollny Trio On Fahrt ins Blaue, atmospheric soundscapes pass by: organic, dynamic, virtuosic, and smooth. The compilation floats effortlessly between electronic textures and acoustic jazz. The journey begins. Time seems to stand still at first: A breeze from Sardinia drifts through a mysterious Asian world (“Lacrima Christi”). The sound cosmos of trumpeter Paolo Fresu and guitarist Nguyên Lê is hypnotic and directionless. A groove sets in — a simple piano melody floats on the surface (“Ironside”): chill-out jazz with blue notes by the master of atmosphere, Lars Danielsson. The Fahrt ins Blaue continues with “Germany’s coolest drummer” (ARD ttt), Wolfgang Haffner, and his drum & bass-inspired ambient jazz (“Shapes”). Pianist and sound tinkerer Bugge Wesseltoft offers insight into his “New Conception of Jazz” (“Existence”). Things become weightless with Jacob Karlzon’s electro-acoustic piano trio jazz (“Bubbles”). The Esbjörn Svensson Trio takes us on a summery, joyful joyride with their virtuoso fun-hit “Spam-Boo-Limbo.” Things take a quirky turn when Clint Eastwood rides across the soundscape in “Ecstasy of Gold”, from the Western classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, in a jazzed-up version by Swedish jazz cowboys Oddjob. That feeling of cool summer rain on your skin is evoked by Ida Sand with her haunting cover of the Eurythmics’ “Here Comes The Rain Again.” And Nils Landgren’s Funk Unit meets us with a funked-out, laid-back take on an ABBA classic (“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”). We make a relaxed stop with Annette Humpe’s McJazz. With charm and a wink, she serves up “Coffee & Tea.” Nu jazz, minimal electro, and lounge pop intertwine in a unique blend crafted by keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Roberto Di Gioia. On “Yelloworange,” he’s joined by saxophonist Johannes Enders. In a moving and elegiac homage, Dan Berglund’s Tonbruket remembers the late Esbjörn Svensson — the shining star of European jazz who passed away in 2008 — with “Song For E,” before the Fahrt ins Blaue ends with the Michael Wollny Trio: “Questions In A World Of Blue.”Credits:Compilation produced by Marco Ostrowski Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann

Galliano - Fresu - Lundgren - Mare Nostrum IICD / Vinyl / digital Paolo Fresu trumpet, fluegelhorn Richard Galliano accordion, bandoneon, accordina Jan Lundgren piano The Long Wait is Over. Mare Nostrum presents 'The Sound of Europe'….. Part Two. Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren form the trio “Mare Nostrum” (meaning our sea, and the Romans' name for the Mediterranean). This band forges connections between the discrete musical cultures of its three protagonists. Countless listeners worldwide have been captivated by their music, by this distinctive 'sound of Europe.' When the first album “Mare Nostrum” appeared in 2007, critics in many countries were unanimous in their opinion that these three musicians had succeeded, they had found their way to forging something of timeless beauty. This “lyrical jazz ensemble with a keen sense of composure” (Downbeat, USA) had created “a wonderful album of genuine warmth” (Jazz Magazine, France) which poured forth “poetry and originality” (Süddeutsche Zeitung, DE) and which was “quiet, intimate and on occasions meditative” (Stern, DE). In other words, “a most unusual and beautiful record. An outstanding musical feast” (Morning Star, UK). Furthermore, the Independent newspaper made the prediction that this “soundscape of contemporary European jazz” would sound remarkable live on stage. And they were right: the trio has now played over 150 concerts in more than 20 countries, and audiences everywhere have fallen under its spell. Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren are dissimilar characters, and yet in this trio these exceptional musicians with their different cultural heritages have found an alliance which fosters their affinities and creates symbiosis. They play instruments from different families, and yet together they combine to create an ideal sound. Each of the three is a compellingly melodic player. Each has worked to extend the perceived boundaries and limitations of jazz. Each has explored within his national musical tradition, and since all three grew up within a few miles of a shore-line, the sea has more than just a symbolic role: it is a constant presence, a source of inspiration, and the starting point for all kinds of journeys and encounters, real and imagined. It goes without saying that all of these musicians are among the most constantly in-demand in Europe bar none. Fresu is involved in countless projects from film to ballet, and is often to be found on stage with musicians as diverse as Nguyên Lê, Ralph Towner, Uri Caine or Omar Sosa. Galliano is an endlessly curious musician. He moves freely between the jazz and the classical worlds and is always on the look-out for new creative inputs, whether working with the late Charlie Haden, with Charles Aznavour or indeed the Sinfonietta Krakow. Jan Lundgren has not just Nordic broodiness and impressionistic esprit as part of his make-up, but equally present are his deep roots in the American jazz piano tradition, which have led to collaborations with mainstream jazz players such as Scott Hamilton or Harry Allen. Lundgren's individuality and distinctiveness are part of what makes him a genuine first call pianist, whether it be for Wolfgang Haffner's “Kind of Cool” project. Or, just recently, for Nils Landgren's Leonard Bernstein Tribute “Some Other Time”. The fact that all three are in such demand has meant that Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren have taken all of seven years to make a follow-up album to the hugely successful start they made together as a band. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the long wait for “Mare Nostrum II” has absolutely been worth it. All three musicians have once again written pieces whose ear-worm tendency is irresistible. The listener is instantly drawn in by the sheer beauty of sound The ear can wallow in the bubbling and limpidly lyrical piano chords and rins that come from Jan Lundgren; the warm, unimaginably variable tone colours of Fresu's trumpet and the cascades of counterpoint from Galliano also charm the listener. This collection contains melancholy ballads, the red-hot pasión and deep yearning of the tango (“Blue Silence”), and the Nordic colurs of “Kristallen den fina”. It steps into the world of Frech chanson (“Giselle”), whereas (“Farväl”) is like a classical Etude. “Aurore” is a radiant hymn and “ Leklåt” is a whirling boogie, racing against the clock. Alongside the original compositions contributed by all three members of the band, the album includes two adaptations of highly contrasting pieces from the classical canon. Claudio Monteverdi's “Si dolce è il tormento” from the ninth book of madrigals was the work of an innovator who was present at the dawn of baroque opera. His composition is treated ethereally and with elegant subtlety. At the other end of the scale is the “Gnossienne No. 1” by that master of musical miniature Erik Satie from fin de siècle France, played with rhythmic assertiveness. These two completely dissimilar pieces from very different eras and contexts demonstrate how these three musicians at the peak of their powers find the essence of European jazz through their perfect interaction. This new CD marks the return to the studio of a European supergroup. And they're on top form.Credits: Produced by René Hess / HR Music Executive Producer: Siggi Loch Recorded, mixed and mastered by Gérard de Haro at Studios La Buissonne, Pernes-les-Fontaines (France), February 23-26, 2014 Assisted by Nicolas Baillard

Fresu, Galliano, Lundgren - Mare NostrumCD / Vinyl / digital Paolo Fresu trumpet, fluegelhorn Richard Galliano accordion, bandoneon, accordina Jan Lundgren piano Can we consider it a coincidence, that Paolo Fresu from Sardinia, Richard Galliano, raised in the southern France but of Italian offspring and Jan Lundgren of Swedish origin found each other? Certainly not, and in spite of the unusual and quite daring line-up, this collaboration of the three most melodically inclined musicians of today’s European jazz scene has grown and developed organically. Yet, life within the world of jazz frequently leads to coincidental encounters such as the one by Lundgren with Galliano on stage of a festival somewhere in Japan. Both musicians joined an electrifying jam session, which led to enormous mutual appreciation. The regular drummer of Jan Lundgren’s trio is also a member of one of trumpeter Paolo Fresu’s many bands, so it is not all that difficult to imagine, that sooner or later they would focus upon each other's work. It seems however rather miraculous, that those usually very busy music stars would engage in a completely new musical enterprise. It appears to have been a true temptation for these continental music masters, to enter such a daring collaboration, and form this unusual trio. Paolo Fresu (1961) originating from Sardinia, Italy, is an untameable poet of sound. The artist’s work, deeply rooted in the cultural life of his native Sardinia, his many international awards, innumerable recordings both under his own name and as featured guest signify the fascinating characteristics of this artist. Fresu is convinced that jazz must open itself to other musical cultures. This newly found collaboration with Galliano and Lundgren points in exactly this direction and gives ample proof of the artist’s limitless curiosity, still apparent after a career of hitherto 25 years. Originality is accordion virtuoso Richard Galliano’s (1950) greatest asset. Early on, he realized that only through recognition and assimilation of one’s roots the artist’s character will ultimately be formed and allow him to aspire and finally ascend to the highest level of musicianship. Much has been written about Galliano’s encounters and friendship with Astor Piazzolla. Yet, to artificially shorten his career by calling him Piazzolla’s heir cannot be justified. Like few others, Galliano has much rather succeeded in mixing various musical languages into one idiom, very personal, entirely European but as close to jazz as to his Mediterranean musical origin. He was able to lift his usually rather bemused musical instrument, the accordion, as well as its smaller brother, the bandoneon, out of the depth of popular music high up to the polychrome of the classic symphony orchestra, helping the instrument to gain a deservedly much higher status and unexpected splendour. Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren (1966) has so far been able to establish himself firmly in the same league as his excellent and innovative Scandinavian forerunners, pianists like Jan Johansson and as of late, Bobo Stenson. His articulation is strong and clear, his phrasing impeccable and his timing and touch is of highest calibre. His fluid executions are exciting yet relaxed, leaving much room for contrasting improvisations, keeping the listeners attention but at the same time letting him breathe freely. His musical range encompasses contemporary influences of classical music, traditional Swedish folksongs as well as an extended jazz vocabulary. In the beginning of his career, the pianist played with many jazz greats such as Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson or Herb Geller, but is now more and more concentrating on his own roots, clearly audible in his compositions. Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren move within a great variety of modes of expression. Considering the fact, that the future of jazz can only be kept alive by opening it towards other musical cultures, the trio acts accordingly and presents a surprising amount of themes of very varied origins. The French touch is featured through an immortal tune by the great Charles Trénet. Swedish folksongs, Maurice Ravel's 20th century stylistics, Brazilian standards by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes as well as originals culminate in a fascinating sound experience. Thanks to the remarkable musicianship of these three outstanding instrumentalists, the trio appears most capable of creating a fascinating whole, which – listened to from afar – seems difficult to obtain. This is the jazz with a contemporary tinge that provides a taste of the future: exciting, highly emotional and full of daringly creative artistic exchange. Thus, it aims at an audience interested in getting involved in its melodically intense projection. Credits: Produced by René Hess, HR MusicRecorded, mixed and mastered by Stefano Amerio at Artesuono Recording Studios, Cavalicco (Udine, Italy) on January 7 - 11, 2007 Cover art based on a painting by Rupprecht Geiger, 1961

For the 20th birthday of ACT-Music, the Jubilee Album presents 20 highlights from the moving history of the Munich label. A real treat for connoisseurs, explorers, researchers and the curious, as well as for anyone seeking the Spirit of Jazz.

The ultimate compilation "celebrates highlights from 15 years of high-quality label history from ACT." AUDIOPHILE HIGHLIGHT - STEREO

A breeze from Sardinia, the hypnotic essence of the Orient, and the enigmatic allure of the Asian world blended with electronic sounds.

"Flamenco and jazz? To hear that today, you should start with Gerardo Núñez." - (JAZZTHETIK) Nominated for a LATIN GRAMMY 2005.

"A fantastic record" - STEREO

Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê blend Vietnamese tradition & jazz with Richard Bona & Paolo Fresu. Recorded in Paris 2000-2001.