Nicola Conte - Other Directions (2010)

Originally out in 2004 under exclusive license to Blue Note/EMI this reissue contains an extra CD featuring the tracks previously released on vinyl (“Other Directions” SCLP 386 Vol.1&2), plus some unreleased ones.

This record represents Nicola Conte's music aesthetic from every angle. Always in balance between Jazz and Bossa Nova, revealing a compositive soul bounded to accomplished acoustic atmospheres.

The composer's intention is to communicate not only through the music but through the lyrics too, showing a talented and learned songwriter. Inspired by the beat literature (The Dharma Bums is a true homage to Jack Kerouac) and that by the English one (Wanin' Moon is inspired by a Percy Shelley's poem), also the cinema and dramaturgy influenced the composer: Le Depart is a reassessment of the piece written in '67 by Krzysztof Komeda for the namesake Jerzy Skolimovsky's movie, and All Gone is a homage to Joseph Losey's “Il Servo,” a '60s black-and-white movie directed by Harold Pinter

“Other Directions” buds from the collaboration and the music affinities of some Italian and international artists such as P.Cancaglini, F.Bosso, D.Scannapieco, P.Lussu, L.Tucci, who became components of the Nicola Conte Jazz Combo band, G.Petrella, R.Giuliani, G.Partipilo, M.Signorile, Pasquale Bardaro, T.Brönner, N.Stilo The extremely elastic voices of the singers (C.Zavalloni, B.Segue, L.Bassenge and L.Minetti) are suitable to render the pieces, even if they come from different artistic fields.

The second CD contains the unreleased Danubian, Teardrop Painted Blue and Quiet Stars; the cover of Charade, a brilliant and innovative reinterpretation of the classic by Henry Mancini; Bohemian’s Dilemma, Waltz Of The Sirens and the extended version of Kind Of Sunshine, all taken from the vinyl release; the alternative take of Wanin’ Moon, chosen by Gilles Peterson for his compilation “Worldwide Exclusive” on the UK label Talking Loud, and the alternative version of Nefertiti, released on the Schema compilation “Freedom Jazz Dance”.

It really is a different direction from the previous productions, mentioning “Jet Sounds” as an example, but it could be considered as a rather positive testament to Nicola Conte's overall musical knowledge, background and leadership. ~ painteddogrecords.com