Nuvole di Carta is my heartfelt tribute to a beloved friend who left us three years ago, at a very young age. A young man very rich in spirit, with many projects he wanted to realize. This latest work of mine is dedicated to him and to his dreams; the title, Nuvole di Carta, alludes in fact to the fusion between dreams (the clouds) and their realization (paper), as if, someway, with my notes I wanted to give a shape to his open eyed dreams. Clouds then acquire the shape of our dreams, which, as our life and our experiences go by, change, sketching outlines that are always different and more complex, sometimes even simpler, but in everlasting movement. Alas, his clouds have stopped still, crystallizing in an eternal present, becoming made of paper. The journey through this cd's tracks would like to melt this painful fixity entrusting that magic of music, which is able, from time to time, to turn even the last drop of the hourglass into honey. I have worked very hard on the choices of timber and rhythm, on the shape of the tracks, trying to deconstruct the themes so to give more space to the creative improvisation of the musicians, without renouncing that melodic element that I consider an indispensable part of my stylistic hallmark. The result is an aesthetic experience, always changing, in continuous metamorphosis, rich with continuous surprises even for us musicians, who have tried to leave the singing to instinct, heart, emotions, anything that can shape dreams and make them come true. The dreams of us, of our friend, and, I hope, of everyone who will listen to us.
Felice Clemente
Felice Clemente - tenor and soprano sax
Massimo Colombo - Piano
Giulio Corini - doble bass
Massimo Manzi - drums
DOPPIA TRACCIA
The music contained on this disc is written, either for the duo compositions either for piano. In discussion is for aid in the study of classical music to jazz address, which must be interpreted with "swing" and with some notion of improvisation, in fact a good jazz practice is necessary. Some compositions have a polyphonic language and needs a good listen of classical music, particularly the Baroque repertoire. It is music for classical or jazz musicians, first of these to give an interpretation, for the other ones to explore and develop creative compositions while keeping firmly to its original score.The " 9 notturni " (op. 581) are compositions for alto saxophone and piano inspired by the famous collection of Frédéric Chopin, among the greatest piano composers of the Romanticism, marvelous piano player and an excellent harmonizer, absolutely one of the most influent classical musician in the modern context.
For the easy singability, the romantic expressivity combined with simplicity, the harmonization to the border between romance and jazz (thinking of Bill Evans) are essential components of the collection. The " 9 Notturni" can also be performed by piano only keeping the same score.
The "duo Fantasia" (Op. 624) for piano and soprano sax is a track more complex in form, rhythm and interaction between written and improvisated parts, in which it develops improvisation while maintaining a strict classical evolution.
The "15 immagini" (op.480) for solo piano are easy samples in which are discussed different musical styles: jazz, latin, choral, folk song, blues.
The two compositions at the end of this disc, "L'insaziabile tono" and "La linea di spago", are made following jazz techniques, even if contaminated with developments related to classical culture: at the thematic exposure follows improvisation on the same structure. The same thematic element is also the final restatement.
Massimo Colombo
FELICE CLEMENTE
Born in August, 9 1974 in Milan. He developed his passion for music in the family circle, under the guidance of his grandfather, who taught clarinet. He continued to study clarinet at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan, where he obtained a first-class degree with M° L. Tessari; afterwards, he attended the two year post-diploma training program. At the same time, his discovery of jazz and the saxophone lead him to pursue its study with saxophonists Paolo Tomelleri, Pietro Tonolo and Tino Tracanna.
He obtained a first class degree in jazz music with M° Tino Tracanna at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan. In Milan, in 2001, he attended the Masterclass in jazz arrangement taught by Corrado Guarino and, in 2002, the jazz Masterclass taught by Dave Liebman and Massimo Colombo. In 2005 he obtained the teacher certification for "classi di concorso 31 e 32 A". At 36, his recording activity can already claim 8 records as a leader and coleader and 7 records as a sideman, plus a hectic concert activity.
AWARDS
As a clarinetist he came in first at the Concorso Internazionale di Musica "Premio Ispra" (Va) in 1991, the Concorso Nazionale di clarinetto "Vito di Lena" of Segni (Rm) in 1994, the Torneo Internazionale di Musica T.I.M. Erba (Co) in 1997.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM SPECIALIZED MAGAZINES
He has had many reviews and recognitions in Italian and foreign magazines specialized in record productions. He has been described by Enzo Siciliano in Repubblica as "the best young Italian saxophonist", and by Cadence magazine (USA) "a talent destined to make jazz history". He has been voted as one of the best saxophonists of the year in the referendum TOP JAZZ 2007, 2008 and 2009, organized by the magazine "Musica Jazz", and JAZZIT AWARD 2011 organized by the magazi "Jazzit".
MUSIC COLLABORATIONS
In addition to his own usual musicians, he has collaborated with artists that are amongst the greatest on the national and international scene, such as Gregory Hutchinson, Xavier Davis, Danny Grissett, Ugonna Ogekwo, Jimmy Greene, Quincy Davis, Asaf Sirkis, Yuri Goloubev, Marco Tamburini, Marco Brioschi, Paolo Birro, Tino Tracanna, Massimo Colombo, Massimo Manzi, Sandro Gibellini, Bebo Ferra, Stefano Di Battista, Andrea Dulbecco, Stefano Bagnoli, Riccardo Fioravanti, Ferdinando Faraò, Rudy Migliardi, Geggè Munari, Giorgio Rosciglione, Antonio Zambrini, Pietro Lussu, Roberto Cecchetto, Claudio Fasoli, Guido Bombardieri, Tullio De Piscopo, Laura Fedele, Sergio Orlandi, Massimo Pintori, Bruno De Filippi, Luigi Martinale, Alberto Mandarini, Giovanni Falzone, Stefano Bertoli, Javier Perez Forte, Francesco D'Auria, Montecarlo Night Orchestra and Nick The Nightfly directed by Gabriele Comelio
ENSEMBLES AND PROJECTS
As of now he directs his own quartet (with Massimo Colombo, Giulio Corini and Massimo Manzi), which sometimes is expanded to a quintet with Bebo Ferra's presence.
He co-directs the duo with Javier Pérez Forte.
He co-directs the duo with Massimo Colombo.
