Antonio Zambrini Trio - "Antonia" E Altre Canzoni (1998)

It takes a good dose of luck to run up against Antonio Zambrini's music, but when it happens you have the great pleasure of discovering something really special. That's because Antonio is a very rare type of person. He doesn't have any of those traits that make it easy to be a success such as being noticed at all the parties: nor is he much of a businessman or fashion freak.
Antonio is a true artist, concentrating on his music; he is retiring and doesn't have much to say for himself, but he is very big inside. His music is like him.
Never exhibitionist, every note counts.
Every track on this album is a little jewel that tells a story. Thc spaces and dynamics are distributcd instinctively: real genius.
He truly knows his jazz, but he also knows a lot more. If'you listen to him, you can hear he loves Bill Evans, but you can also hear he loves Satie and Debussy.
There are so many things i love about this album: the sense of dramatic construction of the solos, the intelligent, never overwheening way that the fast times are handled, the extreme sensitivity you find everywhere, the discreet but effective way that the rhythm section moves and the generous but never obvious swing.
Although this is a first album, it is so beautiful that it sounds like a mature work.