Released in January 2023, the album is a collaborative tribute by the acclaimed Italian jazz pianist , arranger Michele Corcella, and the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana. Here is how this unique project came to be: 🎹 The Vision of John Lewis
John Lewis (1920–2001) was a brilliant American jazz pianist and the musical director of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). While he was a master of bebop and swing, Lewis also harbored a deep, lifelong passion for the classical precision of Johann Sebastian Bach. enricopieranunzi.blues_bach.themusicofjohnlewis...
A traditional (featuring Pieranunzi on piano, Luca Bulgarelli on bass, and Mauro Beggio on drums). A String Quintet . A Wind Quintet . Released in January 2023, the album is a
Throughout his career, Lewis made it his artistic mission to fuse the improvisational, soulful feeling of the blues with the complex, polyphonic counterpoint of Baroque music. His work became the benchmark for a sophisticated "chamber jazz" crossover. 🇮🇹 The Italian Connection Throughout his career, Lewis made it his artistic
Fast forward to the 21st century, and Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi—himself celebrated for his elegant, classical-leaning touch and deep affinity for American jazz masters like Bill Evans—decided to pay homage to Lewis's vision.
To mirror Lewis's ambition, Pieranunzi and Corcella designed a highly specific, hybrid instrumentation:
Instead of just having the orchestra play background padding, Corcella's arrangements forced the classical players and the jazz trio into a tight, breathtaking conversation. On songs like "Vendome," Pieranunzi bounces between brisk classical fugues and hard swing, while on "Django" (Lewis's famous tribute to guitarist Django Reinhardt), the violins carry the strict Baroque counterpoint while the trio swings the blues underneath. 🎶 The Album Content