Hike In Italy

Michael Thompson Bands’s first, and so far only live show in Europe, happened on a magic night on Saturday, April 28, 2018, when in front of an awed crowed, Michael Thompson, together with Larry King on vocals, Larry Antonino and Guy Allison (Unruly Child) on bass and keyboards respectively, and Sergio Gonzalez on drums, performed a set which created a special kind of AOR magic at the Live Music Club in Milan, IT. Cherrypicking the best songs from their now legendary debut album “How Long” and offering some previews from the then upcoming album “Love and Beyond”, MTB offered a magnificent hour long set which delighted all the fans in attendance. This is a one of a kind magic performance and if you were not there, thne now you can see what you missed!

This set presents an extensive collection of works which George Frideric Handel wrote during his short but astoundingly fruitful stay in Italy. Here he met the great composers of the day, imbuing the rich Italian style, full of drama, cantabile and instrumental brilliance.
The set’s focus is on the secular Cantatas, all of them mini-operas in scale and substance, dealing with human emotions of love, jealousy, hope and despair. The influence of Handel’s stay in Italy can be found in many of his great operas and oratorios he later wrote in London.
Apart from the Cantatas the set includes a selection of Italian Duets, and the Serenata Aci, Galatea & Polifemo. · Excellent performances in Historically Informed Performance Practice, by Contrasto Armonico, Musica Perduta and specialist vocal soloists.

Massimo Faraò studied with Maestro Flavio Crivelli and began his career collaborating with musicians from the Genoa Area, especially with the bassist Piero Leveratto. In 1993, he was invited to the US to play with Red Holloway and Albert “Tootie” Heath on a West Coast tour.

Handel in Italy, Volume 2 - London Early Opera, Bridget Cunningham (2016) {Signum Classics Official Digital Download SIGCD462}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44kHz - Official Digital Download (chandos.net) -> 265 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 131 Mb
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© 2016 Signum Classics | SIGCD462
Classical / Baroque

London Early Opera continue their new series of Handel's works with the second volume of pieces composed in Italy. Both volumes of Handel in Italy explore the young composer's Italian years through his cantatas, sacred pieces, operatic works and instrumental compositions. Featuring performances from internationally acclaimed soloists, the sopranos Sophie Bevan and Mary Bevan with their uncle, baritone Benjamin Bevan, conducted and conceived by Bridget Cunningham.

Thelonious Monk - In Italy (1961) {Riverside OJCCD-488-2 rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 258 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 109 Mb
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© 1961, 2006 Riverside Records / Fantasy / Universal | OJCCD-488-2 / 00025218648820
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Piano

Pianist-composer Thelonious Monk's final Riverside recording before signing with Columbia was cut during a concert in Italy, part of an extensive European tour that also resulted in recordings from Paris three days earlier. All eight of the songs (which include "Straight No Chaser," "Bemsha Swing," and "Rhythm-A-Ning") had been recorded in more definitive fashion earlier and, although Monk and his tenor Charlie Rouse sound fine, the bass and drum solos of bassist John Ore and drummer Frankie Dunlop on practically every song are consistently dull and unimaginative. This is not one of Monk's more significant dates, but his fans will still find moments to enjoy.