 
This mini album review begins with Frank Marocco, surely one of the most original voices in jazz accordion, a great giant who has been able to make a breakthrough in how to conceive jazz with the instrument and to adapt his performance for jazz fans, with his formidable technique and always great musicality and expressiveness. We have some examples in these two albums. In "Ballads" Morocco expresses himself in splendid solitude approaching with class and relevance a series of very famous ballads, to name a few, “Lover Man”, “In a Sentimental Mood”, “Smoke get’s In Your Eyes”. This album also has a historical value as it was Marocco’s last CD, before his death, March 3, 2012 at the age of 81. The album was produced in Italy and published on September 28, 2011. Italy has always been a country much loved by Morocco and not only for his origins (his father being from Caserta, his mother from Emiliana). In fact, Frank has continuously collaborated with Italian musicians including the bandoneonist Daniele Di Bonaventura with whom he also recorded the duo CD "Two For The Road". The album is a real gem and its value goes far beyond the beauty of the chosen themes; as the two artists perfectly integrate with the accordion and bandoneon lines intertwine, to draw a design/sound universe of rare suggestions. Splendid, among others, is the interpretation of "Pure Immagination" by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Gerlando Gatto |
