Nicola Conte Presents Viaggio

ブラジル産ボッサ・ジャズの知られざる名演を掘り起こした名シリーズ『Viagem』で知られる、イタリアン・クラブ・ジャズのカリスマ ニコラ・コンテ が、ついにその視線を母国イタリアへと向けた。

本作『Viaggio』は、1970～79年にかけてのイタリアン・ライブラリー・ミュージック黄金期を総覧するコンピレーション。アメデオ・トンマーシ、アレッサンドロ・アレッサンドローニ、マックス・ロッチらによる、長らく埋もれてきた映像音楽の傑作群を、再び光のもとへ導き出した。この時代、イタリアでは映画・テレビ音楽の現場を舞台に、商業音楽の枠から解き放たれた曲家たちが、ジャズ、電子音楽、民族音楽を自由に往来しながらもうひとつのイタリア音楽を築いていた。

本作は、その驚異的な創造の爆発を記録した、まさに音のアーカイブであり旅路だ。トンマーシが描くモーダル・ジャズとシンセサイザーの交錯、アレッサンドローニ夫妻による幽玄なボーカル・ワーク、そしてブラジル音楽や中東スケールの香りを帯びたスウィング・ジャズまで――ここには、70年代イタリアの洗練と実験精神が息づいている。「この時代のイタリア文化に特有の哀愁と陽光を感じてほしい」とコンテは語る。ジャズ・ファンク、ボッサ、電子音楽を横断するそのサウンドは、半世紀を経た今もなおフレッシュに響く。ブラジル音楽の掘り起こしから十数年、いま再び、ニコラ・コンテが自らのルーツを再発見する。

In 2008, Italian DJ, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Nicola Conte issued Presents Viagem, the first of five volumes in a compilation series devoted to Brazils forgotten bossa nova and samba jazz. Nicola Conte Presents Viaggio is a collection of rare Italian library music from the 1970s. Some of Italys finest -- if undernoticed -- composers including Amedeo Tommasi, Alessandro Alessandroni, and Max Rocci recorded a mass of original music for film and television. Over 12 tracks and 39 minutes, Conte curates a colorful, musically adventurous set; it showcases music not recorded for the masses but created specifically to accompany images on screens. These recordings offered uncommon creative freedom for composers and were distributed to film and television industry professionals. Released by Far Out (which also issued Viagem), this musically and aesthetically ranging collection shines a bright light on a nearly hidden musical tradition. The collection opens with the fingerpopping Italian-ized samba "Brasilia" by pianist/composer Amedeo Tomassi, a jazzman who pivoted to soundtrack and library music when recording projects dried up. He weds the Brazilian musical tradition to a modern soundtrack production standard. He later delivers "Lalo," with saxophonist and composer Narassa (Alessandro Brugnolini), in tribute to Argentine film composer Lalo Schifrin. Of the two excellent selections by Max Rocci, "Niagara Falls" weaves electric-era Miles Davis -- complete with wah-wah trumpet -- and Weather Report with a big beat soundtrack sensibility. "Via Mare," from composer/multi-instrumentalist Alessandro Alessandroni, is a joyful groover that stands in sharp contrast to his work with Ennio Morricone on spaghetti westerns. This is lithe, buoyed by strummed acoustic guitars and singing basslines, and adorned with floating harpsichord and synth. "Electronic Jungle" was composed and recorded by Belgian flutist/pianist/composer Joel Vandroogenbroek (founder of prog rockers Brainticket). Its a slinky, jazz-funk groover with bass and synths coloring a syncopated beat under souled-out flute lines. Its followed by Kemas glorious psych-folk ballad "Pescatori (canto feminille)" A noted singer and performer, she was married to Alessandroni. "Leaving," by Desert (a group who only existed in the library music universe), is a cinematic jam with a wandering synth that has been sampled by hip-hop and EDM producers for decades. Latrudi (composer and trumpeter Massimo Catalano) delivers a sensual cooker in "Feeling." Framed by hand percussion, bass, Hammond organ, and Rhodes. It joins psychedelicized hard bop to rockist cinematic tropes. There are three selections by the Swingers, a group led by Tomassi. "Depressione" features Farlocco (composer Stefano Torossi). A noir-ish tune framed by Rhodes piano, upright bass, toms-toms and hi-hats, its sexy and nocturnal. Composer/pianist Marco Di Marco appears on the lilting "Meditazione," entwining fingerpicked acoustic guitars, flute, muted electric bass, and brushed snares. The Swingers close Viaggio with "Nostalgia" a minor-key, samba jazz jam featuring glorious interplay between piano and nylon-string guitars. Nicola Conte Presents Viaggio is exceptionally curated; its a volume of forward thinking yet accessible library music that influenced subsequent generations. Hopefully more volumes are coming. ~ Thom Jurek