WHO: Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto
WHAT: Album release concert for CANTO
WHERE: 1585 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON / 416.588.0307
WHEN: Wednesday, October 28 – Doors 6:30 pm / show 8:00 pm
TICKETS: $25 Dinner reservations guarantee seating. Call 416.588.0307 or reserve online at www.lula.ca
WEBSITE: www.danielanardi.com / www.lula.ca
Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto once again hits it out of the park with her latest album CANTO. Scheduled for release October 16th on EOne Music, CANTO blends old world charm and modern, sophisticated groove on this stunningly beautiful homage to the Italian cantautore tradition. Daniela will perform the music from CANTO in concert at Lula Lounge, Wednesday, October 28th at 8:00 pm, alongside pianist Ron Davis, guitarist Kevin Barrett, bassist Mike Downes and Roger Travassos on drums and percussion. For more information please visit www.danielanardi.com
CANTO follows on the heels of Daniela Nardi’s highly acclaimed album, The Songs of Paolo Conte, of which critics and reviewers globally sang praises, and made Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto a top pick with jazz and world music lovers. It topped charts throughout Canada and the U.S., and received rave reviews from JazzTimes and Jazz Weekly, among others. The release and success of The Songs of Paolo Conte – labour-of-love celebration of the legendary Italian singer-songwriter – set Nardi on a journey of music and personal discovery which continues on CANTO.
CANTO sees Nardi applying her sublime interpretive skills to 10 timeless songs by some of Italy’s greatest jazz
and pop composers. Nardi also contributes an original piece to this eclectic and intoxicating collection. With an international spin, fluid, expressive vocals and effortless, organic instrumental arrangements that incorporate elements of blues, soul and bossa nova, CANTO is a refreshing foray into the great voices of a time past and also, those of the present.
The album is replete with lush arrangements as on the tune “A Story Gone Wrong,” where the intro utilizes the multi-talented pianist and producer of the album, Antonio Fresa’s classical arranging skills. The song quickly turns into a beautiful waltz, worthy of a “love-gone-wrong” ballad, as the strings follow in the ‘50s-‘60s country tradition of songs by the likes of Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn. Tinkling piano adds to the country flavour. The string intro on “Beautiful That Way,” are reminiscent of music heard in films of the great Italian cinema, combined with a vibrant vocal that sounds like Barbara Streisand, if she were in an Italian musical.
Nardi breathes new life into these Italian songs of old, and her vocals are more powerful than ever on tunes like “Giovanni Telegrafista” – a heart breaking Coen brothers-like lament of Giovanni, a telegrapher, and his solitary pursuit for his love, Alba. The extraordinary and effortless trumpet performance by Italian superstar Fabrizzio Bosso on this tune, and throughout the album, is stellar. Likewise, Kevin Barrett’s overall guitar solos and oddly effective twangy guitar enhancement on “Oublion Nous,” – an Italian song sung by Nardi in French here – is phenomenal.
Bossa nova rhythm interpreted by clavé, on “Guidizi Universali,” underscores lazy, soaring horns and a percolating vocal from Nardi that feels like a lazy morning coffee, just before getting ready for a busy day. It also showcases the best use of triangle ever.
The original song “Amami Ancora,” which Nardi co-penned with Mike Downes, Ilaria Patssini, Antonio Fresa, and Gianna Patriarca, is an amourous lament that began with the beautiful words of the famous Italian poet Patriarca. Then as a team, both in Toronto and in Naples, they co-created this piece, which speaks of an unforgettable love.
CANTO was produced by Antonio Fresa and recorded in Toronto and Naples with an impressive cast of some of Canada’s and Italy’s most prominent jazz artists. While the album ends on a perfectly appropriate note with the hauntingly heart-wrenching timeless classic “Canzone Per Te” by Sergio Endrigo, meaning “A Song for You,” it encompasses elements of the many facets of love in a way that only the Italian voice can express.
Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto is a musical and cultural experience that is attracting national and international audiences alike. Recent live dates had the group playing to sold-out houses, including a two-night stint at the prestigious Montreal Jazz Festival, a highly anticipated appearance at Toronto’s international star venue Koerner Hall, (sharing the night with guitar legend John Pizzarelli), and a 2014 tour of Russia. Ontario tour dates in Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Ottawa and Kingston will soon be announced.
