The vibrant Italian jazz scene overflows with talent.
Gianni Cappiello's usually delicate feel springs from the romantic school, where a soft, deft touch marks his approach. A pianist with roots as far back as
Bill Evans,
Cappiello leads his sextet (with the occasional addition of vocalist Sara Gamarro) through seven of his compositions, which generate a lovely, quiet atmosphere. Sometimes, as on
Miles Davis' "Milestones," the pace accelerates and the tension increases, but while the results are invigorating they are also somewhat mundane. The best pieces are those in which the pianist plays alone or in which his presence is most felt. The frontline of
Nicola Stilo on flute, Fabrizio Satoli on trumpet or fluegelhorn, and Francesco Satoli on alto sax works well, as Stilo shows a particular fluency in the bop medium and Satoli generates excitement well within a traditional framework. Generally relaxing fare, the focus sometimes just misses while the musicianship is always there.