Pianist and composer Bruno D’Ambra celebrates his Neapolitan roots with the release of a dazzling piano-trio set of 8 original jazz compositions.
“Growing up in Naples, you can’t escape the presence of the volcano.’’ Says Bruno. ‘’It’s a city where beauty lives side by side with tension and drama”
Bruno captures that beauty, tension and drama on Vesuviana, his debut album as a leader, named after the train line a young Bruno would take to see his piano teacher in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. It confirms him as a mainstay of the UK jazz scene, and reflects a 20-year career working alongside household names – Jim Mullen, Quentin Collins, Tony Kofi and Nigel Price head up a long list.
“An affectionate blend of Neapolitan roots and bustling London jazz. A warm-hearted showcase for Bruno’s musicianship and considerable skills as a composer”
Mike Hobart, Financial Times jazz critic
“The trio possesses a consistent post-bop/modern trio concept combining plenty of swing and harmonic ingenuity and moments of beauty, supported by sassy arrangements”
Simon Purcell, International Chair in Improvisation at the Guildhall School of Music&Drama
Recorded live at The Bunker in Welwyn Garden City by award-winning producer Haydn Bendall (Kate Bush, Pat Metheny, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Andrea Bocelli), the album resonates with the energy and honesty of a live gig and captures the dynamic interplay of the trio in full.
Reflecting upon being an Italian-born musician living in London, Bruno explains ‘‘Vesuviana is a celebration of where my journey has taken me but also a celebration of my roots and the music traditions that came through Naples, which inevitably inspire my own writing.”
Bruno’s writing and playing is skilfully supported by two other regulars of the UK jazz scene: drummer Emiliano Caroselli (Nigel Price, Antonio Forcione, Marta Capponi) and bassist Jason Reyes (Binker Golding, Anjali Perin, Nicky Wells).
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Al Maranca dramatically sets up the album with a vocal improvisation laced with Neapolitan folk tradition.
Available on 21st January 2021 on all streaming platforms, while digital downloads and physical CD will be available through the website brunodambramusic.com as well as brunodambra.bandcamp.com
"The eight compositions on this CD are a sort of musical diary, and each one is inspired by a person, a place or a situation. From romantically sipping ‘latte di mandorla’ on a beach in Puglia, to riding the subway in New York while listening to John Coltrane in my headphones; from driving home at night after a gig in London, to the lovers in a Hanif Kureishi story; from my grandad, an Italian ‘top geezer’, to Concettina, my ‘third grandmother’ and embodiment of all things Neapolitan."
Bruno d'Ambra
