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Giancarlo Mazzù and Luciano Troja
www.lucianotroja.com
(Mazzù My Space Page)
At
Banjo Jim’s
(Banjo Jim’s Website)
700 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10009
212-777-0869
Featuring:
Giancarlo Mazzù on Guitar
Luciano Troja on Piano
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
April 25, 2011
See a CD Review of Giancarlo Mazzù and Luciano Troja
See a Giancarlo Mazzù Trio CD Review
See a Luciano Troja Solo CD Review
Giancarlo Mazzù and Luciano Troja were in town from Messina, Sicily, and once again they presented a fine jazz concert of sumptuous American standards, some of which can be found on their 2 CD Set, “Seven Tales about Standards”, see above reviews. Tonight’s East Village concert began with My Funny Valentine, composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, one of my favorites. Troja added melodic flourishes to Mazzù’s more dissonant passages, then Mazzù switched to Latin ornamentations in exotic, vivacious rhythms. Troja and Mazzù are a seasoned duo, anticipating each other’s enhancement of an introduction, a phrase, a theme. As soon as they’ve played the first song, you can’t wait to hear what’s next.
It was When I Fall In Love, composed by Edward Heyman and Victor Young. Troja played the meandering lead, embellishing the poignancy of this ballad, while Mazzù created some slightly atonal chords that drew the listeners in. The audience at Banjo Jims was quite quiet, intently listening to this engaging melody. Take the “A” Train followed, a Duke Ellington tune, composed by Billy Strayhorn. Troja and Mazzù embellished its bluesy, swing rhythms, very New York, expanding with bits of honky-tonk, New Orleans. Autumn Leaves, which originated in France, later received new lyrics from Johnny Mercer. Troja and Mazzù made the most of this engaging, enchanting tune, as it merged into Mazzù’s scintillating guitar solo of Cole Porter’s You’d Be So Easy To Love. Bye Bye Blackbird was another highlight of this set, a popular standard, composed by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon. Mazzù and Troja mixed pulsating jazz refrains with elegant harmonies. The effect was richly elegant throughout. You can listen to and purchase Troja and Mazzù’s CD’s directly from their websites above. This is music not to be missed, and these recordings also make great gifts, as the music is so soothing and soulful.
Giancarlo Mazzù on Guitar
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Giancarlo Mazzù on Guitar
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Luciano Troja on Piano
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Giancarlo Mazzù and Luciano Troja
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Giancarlo Mazzù on Guitar
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Luciano Troja on Piano
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Giancarlo Mazzù and Luciano Troja
at Banjo Jims, East Village
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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