Roberto Magris Europlane - - Il Bello del Jazz

Soul Note

The work of Italian pianist Roberto Magris is new to me; I undertook investigation only after I heard that he would be releasing a disc with the incomparable Arthur Davis, apparently due to drop sometime later this year. However, Magris’ most recent release proved to be one of the best “straight-ahead” albums I’ve heard recently.

His playing is never showy or needlessly virtuosic, and yet he is extraordinarily nuanced in his approach to the keyboard; just listen to the way he accompanies the other musicians, notably veteran composer/instrumentalist Herb Geller. Magris is constantly sensitive to the wide dynamic and subtle color shifts in Geller’s playing, as can be heard to fantastic effect in “Stray Form.” On Geller’s solo, piano and drums lay out leaving only Geller and bassist Rudi Engel; on their return, Magris concentrates initially on higher register comping, the sound he elicits more harp-like than pianistic. Yet, his playing on “Some Other Spring”, largely a vehicle for piano and saxophone, weds Monk’s timing, and even a few of his characteristic descending runs, with Bill Evans’ harmonic language. It is wonderful to hear these two musicians interacting on such a personal way, Geller’s warm and richly vibrant tones in perfect symbiosis with the stark beauty of Magris’ chordal structures.

Europlane is versatile, engaging a wide array of styles with conviction and authority. “Parker’s Pen” is just plain fun, effortlessly “bop” with Darko Jurkovic invoking Billy Bauer’s sophistication and fluidity and Gabriele Centis embodying the space between swing and all that would follow.

The program is as varied as the players’ knowledge and appreciation of history is broad. This is an enjoyable set from a group with whom I have been privileged to become acquainted.

~ Marc Medwin