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| Daniela Nardi - NY Debut Concert Nov. 3rd One of Canada's most celebrated homegrown artists, Daniela Nardi releases her stunning new Jazz/World music album: Espresso Manifesto -The Songs of Paolo Conte on July 11, 2012 through Acronym Records/EMI Music Canada. Award-winning singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniela Nardi shares her signature interpretations of the songs by legendary Italian artist Paolo Conte, whose stature in Italy is comparable to that of Jacques Brel in France or Tom Waits in America. Under the project title Espresso Manifesto, the Toronto-born daughter of Italian immigrants explores some adventurous and new creative territory on this album that has required her to step out of her musical comfort zone and into the wondrous exploration of the Italian Songbook. Because Conte's work has such a strong male character, the project was extremely challenging from a female's perspective. Nardi has, however, managed to record a full album of his sometimes dark but ironic work, and draws on Conte's more vulnerable, emotional material. Her passionate re-workings of such stirring vintage numbers as the plaintive, haunting, tango-inspired "Gioco D'Azzardo, " the beautifully bittersweet "Nina, " the punchy, playful "Via Con Me" and the breezy, swinging "Gelato al Limon, " offer powerful testimony to both Conte's enduring genius and Nardi's singular interpretive skills. The result is a transcendent cultural experience. Nardi and her husband, renowned jazz pianist/composer Ron Davis, travelled to Italy to record the album at Elettra Studios in Italy's Umbria region. Produced by Nardi, with co-production from Davis and legendary producer/engineer Pasquale Minieri (Elisa, Vinicio Capossela, Gianmaria Testa, Francesco DeGregori), they utilized the talents of a prestigious group of top-flight players drawn from Italy's most vibrant jazz community. Already in high rotation on CBC (Canada's national radio), as well as Espace Musique, the players on the 12-track album include Dario Rosciglione (bass - Danilo Rea, Mario Biondi, Norah Jones) Fausto Mesolella (guitars - Avion Travel, Paolo Conte, Gianmaria Testa), Michele Rabbia (percussion - Stefano Battaglia), Luciano Biondini (accordion - Rita Marcotulli, Enrico Rava, Ivano Fossati) Fabrizio Bosso (trumpet), Gabriele Mirabassi (clarinet - Gianmaria Testa, Holly Cole) and Marcello DiLeonardo (drums - Stefania Rava, Battista Lean, Rosario Giuliani). "Espresso. The ultimate symbol of all things Italian. Dark. Rich. Earthy. Complex yet effortless. Elegant yet primal. Hot. When made in the right way, the only way, it is like nothing you have ever known. This is Italy to me. If one person embodies all these elements, it's Paolo Conte. His music, his lyrics, the experience; as Italian as Espresso. This is my manifesto, my Espresso Manifesto: to create works that proudly display the wonders of those earthy, complex, elegant, primal people, my people - the Italian people." ~ Daniela Nardi "Daniela Nardi's Espresso Manifesto turns out to be a brilliant homage to legendary singer/songwriter Paolo Conte. With beautiful arrangements very respectful of the original songs, Nardi majestically takes on this brilliant, jazz-inflected repertoire." ~ Stanley Péan of "Quand le jazz est là, " CBC/Radio-Canada's Espace Musique. Daniela Nardi Awards: Honorable Mention - Billboard Magazine World Song Contest Reader's Pick Best Female Vocalist - 2009 "Best of Toronto" Now Magazine Female Vocalist of the Year - 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards Best Group Nominee - 2006 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards Jazz/World Music Artist Daniela Nardi - NY Debut Concert Nov. 3rd @ DROM write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |