Bravo Galliano!
velvet_green | 07/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally, after a solo career that spans over almost 20 years and almost the same number of albums, Richard Galliano gets the obligatory "best of" collection. The producers of this album have taken upon themselves a mighty task - trying to pick a handful of pieces which would represent Galliano's ventures into Jazz, Classical & traditional French music. This is no easy task, but judging by the titles, they've certainly made an excellent job.For those who do not know Galliano, his music is a rare mixture between Gershwin and Piazzolla - a brilliant jazz player with endless curiosity and ability. Although a Galliano album would, usually, consist of mostly of his own creations, he enjoys playing other jazz composer's material. This is evident here as well, with the obligatory Piazzolla composition (Inverno Porteno) and a great rendition of Hermeto Pascoal's "Leo, Estante Num Instante". Both should give you a glimpse of who Galliano really is - always a student of the great jazz masters, but at the same time, a true musical genius, who never fails to amaze us with original interpretations of his own music, as well as of fellow compositors.Although Galliano has recorded hundreds of pieces, this collection is a good place to start familiarizing yourself with his music. I found it to be a highly enjoyable collection. Bravo Galliano!"