I struggle with words, they either flow in jumbled torrents or it’s like pulling teeth to find two of them to put together that make sense. When I hear a CD like Stefano Bollani’s Stone In The Water they seem like peripheral, blunt instruments. My review heroes are people like John Fordham of the Guardian who says everything that needs to be said and more in 150 words so as an exercise I’m going to try.
Bollani, (b.1972) is one in a line of great Italian jazz pianists that includes another favourite Enrico Pieranunzi and more recently the Alboran Trio, who blend the contemporary jazz tradition with European classical and folk influences and tones of Latin flavour. In this set he includes a Jobim; Brigas Nunca Mais, a Poulenc; Improvisation 13 en la Mineur and some memorable originals from him and his Danish rhythm section Jesper Bodilsen, bass and Morten Lund, drums. Romantic lyricism is the focus here played with such a tender unsentimental gentleness and inner conviction of what beauty can be when heard, that it feels like a definitive statement on the matter. Unlike the quirky slightly esoteric interpretations on his previous solo piano release, here Bollani is setting out to communicate with a broader brush and shared empathy required of the trio format. There’s an assured mood of confidence, mastery and story-telling that pervades each tune that will stand the test of time. Bollani is letting us into his world note by note and Stone In The Water lets us know that it’s going to be a beautiful place to explore.
OK, so 186 words and a bit stiff methinks. Any tips John? Anyone?
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