Tuk Music

With 850,000 volumes, 120,000 old books and a collection of 7,500 newspapers, the Municipal Library of the Archiginnasio of Bologna is a place steeped in history. It was here, in early 2021, that Paolo Fresu decided to celebrate his own history. For his 60th birthday, the Sardinian trumpet player gathered a handful of relatives for an exceptional concert, obviously without an audience. Together with bandoneonist Daniele di Bonaventura, pianist Dino Rubino, double bassist Marco Bardoscia and the Alborada Quartet, he wandered through various rooms in this magnificent library performing pieces in his own style. A colourful and hybrid jazz, European at heart and always strolling around. Without ever being a birthday retrospective with the feel of a funeral, Musica da Lettura shows above all the extent of Fresu's genius: an avid researcher and passer-by, capable of drawing on popular musical traditions from cinema, literature, classical or folk music and, of course, jazz... The repertoire of this album (available exclusively on Qobuz) mixes popular songs and themes speckled with electronic effects, to underline the distance between the history of the venue and the contemporaneity of the sounds. On El Ciego, the European tradition intertwines with Latin America. On Notte a San Stino, an almost new age composition that he performs alone, Fresu interweaves several takes of his instrument. And to further extend the field of possibilities, he draws his inspiration from Strauss' Metamorphoses, which he bathes in a solemnity inherited from Rossini. Chamber music or futuristic, nostalgic or groovy, meditative or dreamy, nothing is missing from this fiesta between friends... But the essence of this magnificent album lies in the organic and human character of the music. Despite the literary references and multiple influences, Paolo Fresu's trumpet remains a simple and beautiful language that speaks to the heart. A language brought alive by the bond he enjoys with his fellow musicians, all in tune with this anniversary that one would dream of endlessly... © Marc Zisman/Qobuz

Paolo Fresu won't be stopped so easily! Not even at 60. In this, his birthday week, the Sardinian trumpeter with the XXL discography (his name appears on more than 300 records!) is releasing a triple album! The one who keeps slaloming between genres, inspirations and partners is offering up three sides of his art. This copious P60LO FR3SU opens with a remastered reissue of Heartland, a 2001 album featuring the voice of David Linx and arrangements for string quartet by Diederik Wissels. It closes with Heroes, a surprising vocal work, exclusively composed of David Bowie covers. These covers are often surprising and full of  freshness, performed by Petra Magoni and recorded at the end of 2020. Fresu has placed The Sun on the Sea, dead centre in this vocal romp. Also recorded in 2020, it was made with two faithful companions: his fellow bandoneonist Daniele Di Bonaventura and the Brazilian cellist Jaques Morelenbaum. A trio sailing on the currents of a Mediterranean jazz which is also pushed along by Latin American waves. More than two hours and forty-five minutes of protean and colourful music, made in the image of the trumpeter himself. © Clotilde Maréchal/Qobuz