Roberto Magris(Italy) & Eric Hochberg(USA)-Shuffling Ivories
Album: Shuffling Ivories
Label: JMood Records
A heartfelt, intimate tribute paid by two seasoned musicians, pianist Roberto Magris and bassist Eric Hochberg to African American jazz musicians and especially to Eubie Blake, a jazz pioneer whose contribution to the American jazz and culture is undeniable. Roberto Magris has never shied away from sharing his personal vision and talent as a composer and performer when paying homage to the past, and this album is no exception. The flawless interplay between the two musicians is a definite asset to this enchanting album, which creatively mixes tradition and contemporary without losing the original spirit of these timeless classics. Besides two compositions signed by Blake, the album includes pieces by Trudy Pitts, Andrew Hill, Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams, Billy Gault, Cal Massey and by Roberto Magris himself. His composition “Shuffling Ivories” sets the tone referencing Blake’s Broadway musical “Shuffle Along”. He also signs two other works that are wonderfully related to the theme. On “Italy,” he creates a melodic connection between European and American jazz, while “Clef Club Club,” an intense display of impressive virtuosity with a cinematic edge, is an eruption of impressive virtuosity. The elegant and romantic Andrew Hill’s La Verne, one of the album’s most stunning pieces, transforms into a ballad of unique beauty that defies classification; it’s pure music, and both musicians excel at performing it.
