Richard Galliano Love Day 399228-2 : Jazz CD Reviews- 2008 MusicWeb International

1. Aurore
2. Bonjour
3. Birds
4. Hymne
5. Mister J
6. Love Day
7. Appel Pie
8. Serenite
9. Pourquoi?
10. Poeme
11. Aria
12. Crepuscule

Recorded in the Capitol Records Studios, Los Angeles. April 2008

Richard Galliano – Accordion, composition, arrangements, musical direction.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Piano

Charlie Haden – Bass

Mino Cinelu – Drums, percussion

Richard Galliano is acknowledged as the world’s No. 1 jazz accordion player and he amply demonstrates his class on the instrument on this CD. The album also shows him to be an excellent composer, arranger and musical director. The remaining members of the quartet are equally impressive, although only Charlie Haden was previously known to me.

The music represents a day, a life or whatever you would like it to be, and when reviewing a previous CD I said I preferred not to have all new compositions, but some standards help my enjoyment. Those comments don’t apply to this CD, where all the new music is melodic, fresh and delightful - and delivered with great panache by all concerned.

Richard Galliano and his colleagues demonstrate that they are right at the front of today’s musical performers. Galliano transforms the accordion from an instrument of torture to an instrument of delight; few people have ever managed this! The musicians spent six days in the studio in the recording of this CD; it sounds to me like time well spent.

Don Mather

see also review by Tony Augarde

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