PAINTED DOG MUSIC DISTRIBUTION
FILE UNDER: RARE ITALIAN FREE JAZZ FUSION BARCODE: CD: 8018344029481 / LP: 8018344129488
SANTE PALUMBO - SWAY label: SCHEMA (SCEB-948)

 

 

Tracklist


01 Sway play button
02 Bartokiana play button
03 Mad play button
04 Sweetenplay button
05 Canon play button
Sante Palumbo was born in 1932 in Cerignola, a small village near the city of Foggia, in southern Italy. After
studying at Foggia’s conservatory, he moved to Milan in 1954. Unlike other musicians who were rapidly recognised
by the local jazz scene, Palumbo started to be noticed only at the end of the 60s. At the beginning
of his career he was one of the most in-demand pianist for studio sessions. When in 1969 he became part
of Giorgio Buratti’s trio, the critics praised him as one of the most promising pianists of the time. He took part
to a series of renowned Italian jazz festivals (Genova, Lerici, Padova, Bergamo, Milano-Teatro Lirico) and
accompanied American musicians such as Johnny Griffith, Tony Scott, Joe Venuti (with the latter he also
recorded an LP on which I played the guitar).
Santino (that’s how his friends used to call him) studied the work of contemporary pianists and transformed
all his experiences into jazz – a modern kind of jazz – very personal, breaking the rules of the often badly
imitated American free jazz. For Sante jazz means to be able to convert his own inner world, emotions and
culture in swing. The only way for him is then to write his own music, rather than interpreting others’ – with
this fixation he started composing and working with like-minded musicians.
And there it is: his first LP, where all the compositions and arrangements bare his signature. “Sway” is the
title-track, a jazz one, but of pop extraction. Sante doesn’t ignore what’s happening around in music, nor he
ignores what fascinates the younger generations. The fusion between jazz and pop is perfect. “Bartokiana”
is an homage to his favourite modern author: Bela Bartok. This track, where the piano is protagonist, features
the drummer Lino Liguori; the interplay between the two is fantastic. “Mad”, a pop composition in triple
time written for guitar and flute. The flutist is Hugo Heredia, a well-known musician for the jazz connoisseurs,
while guitarist Sergio Farina is at his first jazz experience. “Sweeten” is a slow and inspired tunes, while
“Canon” highlights the talent of bassist Marco Ratti, who counterpointed the theme.