Italian composer Germano Mazzocchetti has the main focus of his activities in the field of cinema and theater. He is known for musical comedies, film music, operas, classical music and television pieces. However he lives out his connection to jazz music with the Germano Mazzocchetti Ensemble.

With this formation he has already released the albums Testasghemba (2009), Asap (2016) and Muggianne (2021). The ensemble consists of Germano Mazzocchetti (fisarmonica), Francesco Marini (soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet), Paolo Emanuele (viola), Marco Acquarelli (guitar), Luca Pirozzi (contrabass), and Valerio Vantaggio (drums).

It is probably an Italian peculiarity to wrap folkloric music with strong reference to the region and its culture with the mantle of jazz music. Liner note writer Nicola Piovani, himself an established Oscar awarded Italian orchestral conductor and film and theater composer, cautiously describes it as a surprising album. The obvious folkloric reference is already evident from the traditional instrumentation.

After all, the main protagonist plays the fisarmonica (accordion). The reviewer has already dealt with the history of the accordion and its relation to Italian music in connection with the review of the album Bon Voyage by Paolo Rozzi. As Charles Mingus stated, "Well, the word jazz bothers me. It bothers me because since I've been publicly identified with it, I've made less money and had more problems than if I weren't."

This permissive use of the term jazz also characterizes this album, which enjoys particular popularity in the land of Abruzzo, where it has already seen several performances. The album begins with La Giostra Della Monachella. The title can be freely translated as "the carousel of Monachella".

I don't know if there is a place with this name, if you type the name into Google you will be graced with plenty of Italian music. In other words, everything revolves around Italian music. Access to this music is gained through the warm-sounding instruments, which are carried by a soft bass and sway as if dancing.

Un Gioco Sottile (A Subtle Game) gains dramatic impact with a cautious beginning that builds to a crescendo. Ogni Persona Ha Una Personalità Personale (Every Person Has a Personal Personality) lets comedy shimmer through.

La Danza Delle Barche a Colori (Dance of the Boats in Color) implements the movements of dancing boats on the water, forming colorful patterns with their many colors. Cinquesei is the name of a person, who really exists, and is pictured with a five and six structured piece. Finally, the word Muggianne has the meaning like "Shut Up" in a local dialect.

This close connection with his homeland, in the strong folkloric reference, characterizes the entire album Muggianne and its firm rooting in the local culture.

 

 

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Album Information

Title: Muggianne
Artist: Germano Mazzocchetti Ensemble
Year: 2021
Genre: Jazz
Label: Alfa Music

1) La Giostra Della Monachella (5:52)
2) Un Gioco Sottile (5:54)
3) Ogni Persona Ha Una Personalità Personale (4:06)
4) Prima Di Adesso (6:16)
5) La Danza Delle Barche a Colori (4:01)
6) Cinquesei (5:25)
7 Incroci Dolosi (4:53)
8) La Tela Bianca (5:32)
9) Muggianne (4:59)