From its earliest editions, the Isola Jazz festival, first held in 2005, has hosted innumerable exponents of international jazz, including the great drummer Bobby Durham, to whom the festival has been dedicated since 2009. This beautiful live performance — recorded in Italy, but by a group of musicians who record for Japan's Venus Records label — easily one of the classiest jazz imprints of the past decade or two! And as a further twist, a number of the artists here are American — which makes the whole thing a great trans-national performance, handled with energy to match.

This collaboration between wonderful Italian pianist Massimo Farao' and veteran of the New York jazz scene, tenor sax man Jerry Weldon features 1930's & '40s Standards on SACD.

Steve Nelson is an American vibraphonist, and has been a member of Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band for more than a decade. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in music, and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made recordings as the leader of his own group. This release for Japanese Venus Records features Massimo Farao’ on piano behind the others.

The Super Quintet is formed of Philip Harper on trumpet and vocal, Jerry Weldon on tenor sax, Massimo Farao' on piano, Nicola Barbon on bass and Byron Landham on drums. Recado Bossa Nova features the title song plus "Vicksville", "Filidia", "It's You Or No One", "No Room For Squares", "This Will Make You Laugh", and more.

Steve Nelson is an American vibraphonist, and has been a member of Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band for over a decade. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in music, and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made recordings as the leader of his own group. As a resident of the New York City area he has performed and recorded with many musicians, including Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Mulgrew Miller, David "Fathead" Newman, Johnny Griffin, and Jackie McLean.

Massimo Faraò, who is from Italy, first visited the United States in 1983 when he played with Red Holloway. In Europe he has since worked with many top performers including Tony Scott, Jesse Davis, Franco Ambrosetti, Nat Adderley, Jack DeJohnette and a notable tour in 2007 with organist Joey DeFrancesco. Even with all of that, it is as the leader of his own trio that he really shines. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates. For this release his trio join Ernesttico on congas and featuring jazz guitarisr Davide Palladin.

This Japanese Venus Records' release features timeless lullaby tunes to relax with and enjoy. A wonderful Italian pianist Massimo Faraò united with Laura Klain and Nicola Barbon to perform a classical works by Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Grieg, Chopin, and some traditional native compositions.

Massimo Farao' is a masterful Italian pianist who has played and recorded with Red Holloway, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Tony Scott, Franco Ambrosetti, Nat Adderley, Jeff Tain Watts, Jack DeJohnette and Chris Potter, among others. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates.

Denise King is a singer whose naturally beautiful voice, vibrato and phrasing please musicians as well as fans. In the past 25 years, Ms King has sung at almost all of the top venues in Philadelphia, several in New York, Paris, Turkey, Brazil, Africa, Germany and Japan. This album for Venus Records was recorded in Italy with Massimo Farao' Trio. "Denise King sings pop and jazz standards with touches of the blues, soul and even gospel in a voice steeped in a sophisticated, swinging, sometimes soulful, satin style much like one of her idols, Sarah Vaughan".

Jessica Young is a powerful and talented singer from Melbourne, Australia who has recorded and is working with Ronnie Scott's Artistic Director, James Pearson. She worked previously in New York on tracks with jazz legends George Coleman, Russell Malone, and Harold Mabern. Truly unique and versatile, Jess draws on her diverse background of opera, jazz, neo-soul and blues to offer a fresh contemporary style that has played well to audiences and garnered strong critical response.

Mesmerizing vocals by Italian singer Daria Toffali. Tofffali started her singing career with various Italian bands playing different kinds of music: jazz, funk and Brazilian music. Here she pays homage to Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, backed by the Massimo Farao' Trio.

A beautiful and thrilling Italian jazz ballad session by alto saxophone player Claudio Chiara and tenor saxophone player Emanuele Sisi. A quartet and quintet performance with the two frontmen Claudio Chiara and Emanuele Sissi, plus the piano trio of Massimo Faraò/Nicola Barbon/Bobo Facchinetti. Recorded in February 2020 in Turin, Italy.

Massimo Farao is a wonderful Italian pianist who has played and recorded with Red Holloway, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Tony Scott, Franco Ambrosetti, Nat Adderley, Jeff Tain Watts, Jack DeJohnette and Chris Potter, among others. Venus Records' producer Tetsuo Hara must have really fallen in love with Farao's music because in less than a year he has released no less than five of the Italian pianist's albums. The debut CD by his trio Luiza was followed by Bohemia After Dark which featured his bassist Aldo Zunino in a duo setting. Now we have three new albums (Autumn Leaves, My Funny Valentine and I Left My Heart In San Francisco) that were all recorded in a three-day session in February, 2014.

On this Japanese Venus release, Massimo Faraò's piano trio plays works by Beethoven, Chopin, Grieg, Gounod, Listz, Brahms, Albinoni, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and title track by Smetana. Faraò's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates.

Massimo Faraò, who is from Italy, first visited the United States in 1983 when he played with Red Holloway. In Europe he has since worked with many top performers including Tony Scott, Jesse Davis, Franco Ambrosetti, Nat Adderley, Jack DeJohnette and a notable tour in 2007 with organist Joey DeFrancesco. Even with all of that, it is as the leader of his own trio that he really shines. Farao's passionate style and stoic romanticism are very attractive along with the rich harmonies he creates. For this release his quartet features Davide Palladin, Nicola Barbon and Roberto "Bobo" Facchinetti, accompanied with Academia Arrigoni's Strings Orchestra, conducted by Bruno Cesselli.