Roberto Magris: Love Is Passing Thru

Long recognized as one of the finest jazz pianists around, Roberto Magris has an extensive discography documenting his talents as a composer and his skills as a virtuoso pianist. In 2005, Magris and his all-Italian quartet of saxophonist Ettore Martin, bassist Danilo Gallo and drummer and percussionist Enzo Carpentieri toured the Far East and upon their return the group recorded Love is Passing Thru. However, it was not released until 2024 through JMood Records. The passing of drummer Carpentieri and the interest in finally highlighting his music was a main factor in bringing this music for the world to enjoy.

The music is a distinct taste of modern jazz featuring the quartet, duo and solo performances throughout a unique and captivating thirteen-piece repertoire that showcases the percussionist Carpenteria on the Balinese gong, reyong, cengceng, kopyak, kimba, woodshells and chimeson—all instruments rarely heard on typical jazz albums. One of the pianist's musical heroes has always been pianist and composer Herbie Nichols, and Magris tips his hat to the musician with a delicate solo performance on the opening track aptly titled "Hair, Bee, Knee, Calls" which phonetically spells the late pianist's name.

The lengthy ten-minute plus "Two-Sided Love" speaks of love as having two aspects, aggressive and romantic—two sides expressed in the music in the form of the "transition from the initial free jazz intro to the languid melody played by Martin's tenor." An admirer of Duke Ellington's music, Magris draws four tracks from Ellington's favorite composer Billy Strayhorn with a lovely version of "Love Has Passed Me by Again," and "Love Came," staying within the theme of the album, and two solo renditions of his classic standard "Lush Life," a softer version followed by a decidedly harder and striking one, and the light sophisticated and warm "Orson."

Another love-themed song in which the pianist performs in a duet format with the percussionist is the Marian McPartland standard "In the Days of Our Love." The two Italian contributions here "Mi Sono Innamorato" and the famous and familiar "Estate," are as different as night and day, one short and challenging while the other is a melody-filled wonder.

Gerry Mulligan's wistful "Ontet" takes on a fresh new treatment with Carpentieri's Balinese percussions as an introduction then is fully embraced by a huge love hug from Magris in a spectacular, brief-but-swinging finale. Love is Passing Thru may be a modern jazz experience from the past but is certainly as relative today as it was then. Along with the love theme of the recording, Roberto Magris and the band let it be known that "This recording is one that truly represents Magris' experience, culture and approach to jazz as a European musician."

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