Another Great Galliano Vintage
velvet_green | 07/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Laurita" is yet another great album by Richard Galliano. For those who are still in the dark, Galliano is one of the best jazz musicians of our time. He's not only a master player of the Accordion & Bandoneon (which is an extremely difficult instrument), but he's also a very competent composer, as "Laurita" clearly demonstrates.The tracks on this album are mostly Galliano's own creations, though two are tributes to his main influence, Astor Piazzolla. After Piazzolla death, there seems to be only one person who can play Piazzolla's great masterpieces with the same sense of urgency and passion - Richard Galliano. Just listen to the two examples on this CD - Libertango & Milonga Del Angel. This is a fine homage to the essence of the Piazzolla spirit. Surely Libertango, one of Piazzolla's greatest hits, which was covered by so many, is represented here in one of the best if not the ultimate version.One of the best tracks, and certainly the grooviest, on the album is "Mr. Clifton", which shows Galliano's ability to improvise on themes which are totally distant of his familiar french musette style jazz. Another track which deserves a mention is the title track, which has since became a Galliano trade-mark.Overall, a highly entertaining album, which deserves a place on any music lover library."
Sophisticated and Laid-Back
Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 07/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It took me a few listens before I arrived at the conclusion that Laurita deserves five stars. Some songs I liked instantly. Piazzolla fans should be more than pleased with Galliano's flawless interpretations of Libertango and Milonga del Angel. But those of us who have been Galliano fans for a while already know that he is one of the finest interpreters of Piazzolla on the scene today. The question is now, how does Galliano interpret Galliano and what is it that makes him a jazz artist worth following?
On Laurita, he goes a long way toward answering those questions. I have a few other Galliano recordings, and Laurita is one that comes closest to traditional 50s-60s jazz combo style. Right away, I liked the elegant title cut. Then it took me a few more listens to the rest of his compositions to understand and enjoy them fully. Of those, my favorites are Decisione, Blue, and the swinging Mr Clifton. I also enjoy the dreamy rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's La Javanaise.
For those who doubt that accordion works in serious jazz, hearing this CD should dispel that notion. Laurita is sophisticated, laid-back and is highly recommended.
Please note that the CD cover shown is not the one you get when you buy this. But the music is the same!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
