Italian Musical Odyssey

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There is more to Italian music than the Three Tenors, "O Sole Mio," and "Volare." A burgeoning folk revival has fostered a diverse crop of ensembles and singer-songwriters hailing from throughout the country, including Naples. Their styles range from contemporary neo-trad to the earthiest rural troubadours. Clichés quickly fall by the wayside before such a startling wealth of cultural outpourings. Among the most surprising revelations are Agricantus and La Ciapa Rusa, both of whom would be perfectly at home sitting in with Celtic acts, and Lucilla Galeazzi, a noted musicologist whose mournful, flexible mezzo evokes the shadows of Portuguese fado. The Fratelli Mancuso are a Sicilian duo who sound as though they are channeling the spirit of Gordon Lightfoot. Calic does a kind of Sardinian toasting, while Riccardo Tesi, Tuscany's melodeon virtuoso, exhibits his mastery. This is a stimulating introduction to an extraordinary family of performers and traditions. --Christina Roden

Review

Putumayo offers us a short but sweet sampler of Italian roots music today. Although important Italian roots artists like Umbria's Lucilla Galeazzi, the Neapolitan Rua Port'Alba, and the Sardinian group C`lic are included, it lacks several well known artists such as Alessandro Belloni or Mario Crispi. Still, songs from each region speak to the wonderful diversity of Italian traditions. Mellow acoustic cuts prevail: Full-throated vocals star in presentations from Fratelli Mancuso and Novalia, but the Argicantus cut is a folky ditty devoid of its usual defiant techno production. Sugary accordions are emphasized over banging drums. The stereotypical notions of operatic tenors singing to senoras in the town square should be demolished by this manifestation of the depth and diversity of Italian musical traditions. This is Italian roots music-it is important that it is heard outside of Italy. But there is more than this. -Brian Grosjean -- From Rhythm Magazine, ISBN13: B00004YLBS ISBN10: B00004YLBS Material Type: audioCD