Comim, Flavio

The jazz legend Chick Corea and world-renowned Italian guitarist Flavio Cucchi have known each other since the late 1980s. This recording features Corea’s only work written expressly for the guitar, ‘Six Ruminations,’ heard in a new version by Cucchi, as well as Cucchi’s arrangement for two guitars of the magical, haiku-like ’12 Children’s Songs.’ The album continues with Alfonso Borghese’s charming ‘Habanera d’Autunno,’ the famous Egberto Gismonti piece, ‘Agua e vinho,’ Giulio Clementi’s evocation of bygone dance hall days and the folk-infused ‘English Suite’ by John Duarte. Flavio Cucchi has given hundreds of recitals all over the world and participated in radio and TV broadcasts for the BBC, RAI, ZDF, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and Radio Prague, among others. Many composers have dedicated works to him, and he has held masterclasses all over the globe.

A trumpet (by Flavio Zanuttini himself, the mastermind behind “Born Baby Born”), an alto sax (Piero Bittolo Bon) and a drumset (Marco D’Orlando). Nothing more: no bass to deepen the rhythm and no harmonic instrument, be it a piano or a guitar.

This CD will be best appreciated by those who admire the 'authentic performance movement' in baroque music. Christofellis's voice isn't what I call beautiful, but their is no denying that his ability is extraordinary, if not bizarre. The highlight for me is the sublime 'Lieto cosi tal volta' from Pergolesi's little-known opera Adriano in Siria and I recommend buying the CD for this aria alone. Christofellis is also a musicologist and it is interesting to hear an informed take on musical issues such as ornamentation. Anyone wondering what the castrati may have sounded like can get a pretty good idea from this recording.