André Ceccarelli has long been one of Europe's premiere jazz drummers and since the new century began he is getting additional opportunities to showcase his talent as a bandleader and composer/arranger as well. His band includes the brilliant pianist
Enrico Pieranunzi, veteran bassist
Hein Van De Geyn and the promising tenor saxophonist
David El-Malek.
Ceccarelli excels at driving a band and is equally at home in driving post-bop numbers like the pianist's "Five Plus Five," his own angular "Free Three" and his solo feature "1er Novembre."
Van De Geyn contributed the haunting ballad "Though Dreamers Die," which features
El-Malek's emotional solo. Vocalist
Elisabeth Kontomanou is added for "Golden Land" (which she co-wrote with the leader, while it is also heard in instrumental form) and the standard "I'm Through with Love." This rewarding session will easily stand the test of time. ~ Ken Dryden