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Acqua Foco e Vento - Folkworld (in English)

Michael Moll

This album presents the song traditions of a distinctive small region in Italy, encompassing the Pistoian mountains and Lower Tuscany. With Riccardo Tesi and Maurizio Geri, this project has two highly talented musical directors, with a keen interest of bringing old Italian traditions to life, in a new make-up.

Riccardo, the excellent melodeon player, has put together this project, working in close co-operation with singer and guitarist Maurizio Geri, who plays also in Riccardo’s Banditaliana. Other musicians involved in this great CD project play sax, cello, double bass, frame drums, piano/keyboards, percussion. Some songs see Maurizio duetting with the beautiful female voice of Anna Granata.

The album features 18 traditional Tuscan songs, usually centred on the warm and pleasant voice of Maurizio, but with exciting arrangements breathing new and fresh life into the old songs. This is one of those albums that grows onto you when listening to it again and again – probably, because some of the arrangements are rather complex. I am now at a stage of loving this album, listening to it again and again, falling for the charming spell that this music has in it, and discovering each time new details. So an album not only of cultural interest, but also highly enjoyable.

Two things still left to mention – the European Union has co-funded this music project with LEADER II money, to support the development and promotion of local culture. And finally, the booklet is full of information, in a good layout. Recommended.

Folk world. The online music magazine

05/11/2003