Songs for a desert island
APERIJAZZ
Duo Castelli Ponchiroli
Marco Castelli saxophones
Marco Ponchiroli piano
«Songs for a desert island» is a work of uncommon quality. We are not only in the presence of excellent musicians who play good music, but of a production that combines a high level of research with a “restitution” on the executive level rich not only in taste and style, but also in very happy intuitions.
The saxophonist Marco Castelli and the pianist Marco Ponchiroli, have undertaken an intense and evocative journey among some great composers of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. At the end of this long exploration the two musicians have chosen twelve pieces, compositions of different genres and of different temporal and geographical origins.
These are performances that reveal two strong artistic personalities and a sort of elective affinity, matured in numerous collaborations and common projects. Thus, with the utmost ease, we move from Beethoven to Chopin, from Tchaikovsky to Schumann, from Skrjabin to Verdi, from Handel to Ellington, from Jobim to Piazzolla, from Morricone to John Williams.
The duo’s jazz is evocative and lyrical, and they are not afraid to borrow pieces from the European classical tradition, from famous soundtracks, from great South American music and from the jazz tradition.
«Songs for a desert island» is ultimately a visionary production, the result of the search for a sound coherence and an expressive dimension, which cancels the aforementioned differences in space, era and genre of the chosen pieces, introducing continuous variations of harmonic, rhythmic and narrative elements into the performance, always inspired, never gratuitous or mannered. It is an album to be jealously guarded and taken with you, each to your own desert island.
Songs for a desert island was released with Caligola Records at the end of 2023.
The executive and compositional style he proposes and the approach of his musical communication allow him to frequent various territories and languages with naturalness and creativity, alternating the activity of saxophonist with that of director of big bands and sound designer.
In addition to his concert activity in Italy, Marco Castelli stands out among Italian musicians for his impressive international activity with concerts in festivals and tours in over 40 countries around the world from the USA to Africa, from South America to Asia, participating in important festivals including the Singapore Art Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the San Sebastian Jazz Festival in Spain, the Bohemia Jazz Festival, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, the Athens Jazz, the Biennale International des Théâtres du Monde in Rabat, the Cervantino Festival in Mexico, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica and many others.
Curious and open-minded musician, after a few years he embarks on a different research path that will lead him to contaminate various musical genres and various forms of artistic experience. He frequents blues, pop, reggae and at the same time cultivates a passion for jazz, which will become the main genre of reference.
Marco Ponchiroli has recorded numerous albums, both under his own name and with other projects, collaborating with many prominent musicians of the Italian and international jazz scene including Fabrizio Bosso, Pietro Tonolo, Flavio Boltro, John Riley, Robert Bonisolo, Michel Marre and many others. Very relevant in recent years is the concert activity in piano solo of which Marco Ponchiroli is a 'specialist'.
AperiJazz, live music in Venice by
IL SESTIERE DELLA MUSICA