Marco Bittelli
Libera
Pacific Coast Jazz
www.pacificcoastjazz.com
By George W. Harris

Guitarist/composer Marco Bittelli has put out an impressive debut
recording here with a collection of originals that mixes “contemporary”
(read “not smooth”) jazz with a Mediterranean folk flavor. An abundance
of songs, like “Gennaio” and “Something To Remember” have that classic
Latin yearn and mournfulness, with Horace Alexander’s tenor and flute
making the music sound like it’s being played on a warm summer evening
in Piazza Navona. The rest of the band (Charles Argersinger/p, David
Snider/b, David Jarvis/dr, Ruth Boden/cello) create an open and
spacious atmosphere to cheerful melodies like “Nudo” or dramatic themes
like “Vento Sulla Palouse.” Bittelli’s tone and sound is like an
economized Joe Pass, with sophisticated chords mixing with alacrity of
finger work on solos. Nice original opening work. Bravo ragazzo!