Recorded in the Capitol Records Studios,
Los Angeles. April 2008
Richard Galliano – Accordion, composition,
arrangements, musical direction.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Piano
Charlie Haden – Bass
Mino Cinelu – Drums, percussion
Richard Galliano is acknowledged
as the world’s No. 1 jazz accordion player and he amply demonstrates
his class on the instrument on this CD. The album also shows him to
be an excellent composer, arranger and musical director. The remaining
members of the quartet are equally impressive, although only Charlie
Haden was previously known to me.
The music represents a day, a life
or whatever you would like it to be, and when reviewing a previous
CD I said I preferred not to have all new compositions, but some standards
help my enjoyment. Those comments don’t apply to this CD, where all
the new music is melodic, fresh and delightful - and delivered with
great panache by all concerned.
Richard Galliano and his colleagues
demonstrate that they are right at the front of today’s musical performers.
Galliano transforms the accordion from an instrument of torture to
an instrument of delight; few people have ever managed this! The musicians
spent six days in the studio in the recording of this CD; it sounds
to me like time well spent.
Don
Mather
see also review by Tony
Augarde