Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Teo Collori & Momento Cigano
Label: Celinka
Released: 2015
Runtime: 38:17
Rating: 4/5
The album »Hot Club Piran« opens a new chapter in the career of Teo Collori, the respected, jazz-schooled guitarist from the Slovenian Littoral. There’s no doubting this player’s musical talent or his layered way of hearing music. Over a decade of gathering experience in all sorts of groups, the seasoned musician earned a spot in the backing band of Magnifica, plays with alt-rockers Eskobars, and not long ago put out the very interesting record »Pesem o morju« with Metod Banko. But with this new project, where he’s joined by a superb crew of musicians, the man finally cashes in on his jazz chops and dives headfirst into the heart of »gypsy swing«.
As mentioned, »Hot Club Piran« is entirely devoted to riding the gypsy swing tradition, and Collori and his crew approach the nine tracks, all originals, by staying within the premise of the axiom »less is more«, meaning they serve up substance with restraint rather than exhibitionism. In other words, there’s no room on the album for cramming solo escapades into the arrangements, which could easily lead to musical chaos. Nope. The band is concise and considered in every move. Stingy with the solo moments rather than stretching out endlessly in improvisation. Invoking the name of Jean “Django” Reinhardt fits every moment of the album, though Collori deserves congratulations for pulling off a record without a single cover, which on similar gypsy swing albums today is more the exception than the rule.
»Hot Club Piran« is a hugely listenable record, which was Teo Collori’s basic aim all along: to deliver a kind of musical document that’s close to everyone. Casual listeners and more demanding connoisseurs alike. The interplay of violins, guitar, clarinet and saxophone is intricate, supple and balanced in its improvisations, at once lively and dynamic and easygoing in character. The songs are mostly played at a mid-tempo gear, with room left for subtler ballad moments as well as waltzes. Nobody in the band “blows up” on their instruments, which would be a mandatory trademark of, say, a Vasko Atanasovski, because this time that’s “forbidden”. The tracks are simply built in a way that can’t handle wild soloing. The race-car showboating has definitely gone bankrupt on this album.
»Hot Club Piran« carries a historic ring, caught in the playful gusts and little breezes of today’s Piran. It has a recognizable charm, a character, a musical record all its own. The production is warm, unpretentious, pleasant and naturally mellow. The band recorded the album in one go, in the manner of a live performance in the studio, which gives the captured sound just the right finesse and a dash of total authenticity. The songs carry a melancholic sentiment, while a dose of solo cheerfulness full of playful moments keeps the album’s moods in a lasting balance. A gorgeous, unburdened achievement that you can put on anytime, whatever you’re doing during the day!
Lineup
Matej Kužel – clarinet
Matija Krečič – violin
Mauro Freschi – guitar
Nicola Burbon – double bass
Teo Collori – guitar
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Lenart Krečič – soprano saxophone on tracks 4 and 9
Klemen Bračko – viola on track 6
Tilen Artač – cello on track 6
Production
Sašo Fajon
Tracklist
1. Chase
2. Tony Mitraglia
3. Earnie
4. One moon no sun
5. Luna
6. Cara negri theme
7. Pierrot
8. Zheton
9. Leonardo Molto Cigano
