Various
Artists | Jazz in Italy in the '50s
Riviera Jazz Records
Various
Artists | Jazz & Hot Singers in the '30s
Riviera Jazz Records
Between
the two volumes Jazz and Hot Singers in the ’30s offers
up more variety, opening the door into Italy’s vivacious
prewar jazz and pop world. Again, the music here doesn’t
do much more than emulate (in some cases rewrite) the latest
American sounds, but hearing it done in a foreign tongue is
weirdly charming—and, just like the music that influenced
them, these recordings are also a heck of a lot of fun. Within
are convincing Dixieland and syncopated dance band sides peppered
with magnificent solos (Orchestra Circolo Jazz Hot di Milano,
featuring amazing violinist Armando Camera), Rudy Vallee-esque
crooners (Vittorio De Sica), and melodious Boswell Sistersstyled
vocal trios (Dunk’s Rhythm Sisters and Trio Vocale Lescano,
both comprised of Dutch transplants who sang in Italian).
As the decade wore on, Benito Mussolini and his pals would
unsuccessfully attempt to ban this spirited music. But even
though Il Duce finally got his just reward at the hands of
an angry, betrayed populace in 1945, perhaps the real poetic
justice lies in what the dictator’s own son, Romano
Mussolini, eventually became: an acclaimed jazz pianist. Finé!
www.rivierajazz.it
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