Release date: September 10th, 2021
code/format: BFA CD 020
Angelo Lazzeri guitar
Guido Zorn double bass
Alessandro Fabbri drums
All songs written by Duke Ellington except where indicated
Liner notes
We are not the first to be captivated by Duke, nor will we be the last. Don’t let the fact that there is a piece on this album by Billy Strayhorn mislead you; it is not a mistake. The tallented and genius “Sweet Pea” was drawn in by Ellington’s gravitational field that was of vital importance in the music scene during 20th century. Duke’s magnetic appeal captured the popular imagination and has captivated us as well. We won’t call this a “tribute” (an often over used word that has lost much of it’s intrinsic value), but more of an essential dialog with the author-emblem of African American music. He was a business savvy music icon known for his style, charm, eloquence, charisma, and leadership skills. Like every planet, Ellington’s repertoire has a shadow side. Not dark, but simply less well known. Nevertheless, it is just as precious as the more well known works. These are the pieces that we decided to search for and explore. We were fascinated by the wealth of treasures that lay just below the surface in the world of Ellington.
Angelo, Guido and Alessandro