Guarda che luna…Again

Alessandro Collina is an Italian pianist whose work combines classical training with jazz improvisation. He took his first piano lessons with his uncle, Ubaldo Giardini, and continued his studies with Gianmaria Bonino, graduating in classical piano from the Conservatory of La Spezia. After attending improvisation workshops, he studied jazz piano at the Conservatory of Nice.

He performed with the Conte Big Band directed by Giampaolo Casati and, from 2003, with the Italian–French quartet led by trombonist Luca Begonia. His collaborators have included Gianni Basso, Emanuele Cisi, Claudio Capurro and David Amar. From 2006 to 2008 he was a regular member of Paul Jeffrey’s European touring group, with which he recorded We See, a tribute to Thelonious Monk released by Imago Records in 2009.

In 2009 he began collaborating with Andy Gravish and Mike Campagna on the project 5AM; its CD was released in 2011 and distributed by Anticraft. In 2009, Louis and Philippe Petrucciani invited him to take part in a tour marking the tenth anniversary of Michel Petrucciani’s death, which took him to major Italian jazz festivals. From 2010 he also collaborated in concert with trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso in France and Italy.

His continuing work dedicated to Michel Petrucciani has involved bassist Marc Peillon and drummer Rodolfo Cervetto. With trumpeter Marco Vezzoso he recorded the live album The Osaka Concert during their 2015 Japanese tour and later Guarda che luna… Again, an instrumental exploration of Italian songs.

Marco Vezzoso is an Italian jazz trumpeter and composer born in Alba. He began studying classical trumpet at the age of ten and obtained his diploma at the Turin Conservatory. His interest in jazz and improvisation led him to masterclasses with Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Dave Douglas, Wynton Marsalis, Luca Aquino and Alberto Mandarini.

He has lived in France since 2012 and has taught jazz trumpet at the Pierre Cochereau Conservatory in Nice. The biography accompanying Guarda che luna… Again also records his work directing the brass ensemble of the Nice Opera. Alongside teaching, he has maintained an active concert career across Europe as a bandleader, soloist and sideman, and as a conductor, arranger and composer.

After appearing on nineteen albums as a sideman, as reported in the album’s original biography, he recorded his first album of original compositions as a leader in 2014 for MAP, distributed by Egea. He has collaborated with RAI in Rome on music for advertising and film; his piece Resta in camera Bi was used as the theme for the Radio RAI programme Tra poco in edicola.

During his 2015 tour of western Japan, his concert in Osaka with pianist Alessandro Collina was recorded and released by Da Vinci, with distribution by Egea. From 18 August to 6 September 2017, the two musicians toured Cambodia, Indonesia and Japan, giving sixteen concerts. Their subsequent recording Guarda che luna… Again presents Italian song classics in instrumental jazz interpretations.

Alfredo Mazzucchi (1878–1972) was an Italian composer and musician, known for being the co-author of some famous pieces of the Canzone Napoletana (Neapolitan songs) such as "'O sole mio", "Maria Marì", and "I' te vurria vasà".

Armando Trovajoli (1917–2013) was an Italian pianist and composer whose career encompassed jazz, film scores and musical theatre. He wrote extensively for Italian cinema and for stage productions by Garinei and Giovannini. His melody Roma nun fa la stupida stasera, from Rugantino, became one of the best-known songs associated with Rome.

Bruno De Filippi (1930–2010) was an Italian jazz guitarist, harmonica player and composer from Milan. Alongside his jazz career, he wrote songs for leading Italian singers. His best-known popular composition is Tintarella di luna, with lyrics by Franco Migliacci, made famous by Mina.

Domenico Modugno (1928–1994) was an Italian singer, songwriter and actor. His theatrical delivery and distinctive melodic style helped transform post-war Italian popular song. Nel blu dipinto di blu, widely known as Volare, brought him international success in 1958. His repertoire also includes Tu si ’na cosa grande, with lyrics by Roberto Gigli.

E. A. Mario (1884–1961) was the pen name of Giovanni Gaeta, a Neapolitan poet, lyricist and composer. He wrote songs in both Italian and Neapolitan, often supplying words and music himself. His works include La leggenda del Piave and Santa Lucia luntana, whose theme of departure became closely associated with emigration.

Eduardo di Capua (12 May 1865 – 3 October 1917) was an Italian composer, singer and songwriter from Naples.

He is best known for ’O sole mio, composed in 1898 to words by Giovanni Capurro. The song’s music is also credited to Alfredo Mazzucchi. Di Capua’s melodic writing became part of the internationally performed Neapolitan song tradition.

Fred Buscaglione (1921–1960) was an Italian singer, musician and songwriter from Turin. His jazz-influenced songs and distinctive stage persona brought an American swing sensibility into Italian popular music. Working closely with lyricist Leo Chiosso, he created songs including Che bambola and Love in Portofino.

Gino Paoli is a central figure in the history of Italian songwriting and the Genoese school of cantautori. His intimate lyrics and supple melodies helped establish a new language for Italian popular song. His songs include Il cielo in una stanza, famously recorded by Mina, and Senza fine, closely associated with Ornella Vanoni.

Lucio Dalla (1943–2012) was an Italian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Bologna. Beginning as a jazz clarinettist, he developed a highly individual song style that combined narrative, theatrical expression and melodic invention. His songs include Caruso, written in 1986, as well as L’anno che verrà and Futura.

Luigi Tenco (1938–1967) was an Italian singer and songwriter associated with the Genoese school of song. His restrained melodic writing and direct, reflective lyrics helped shape the modern Italian cantautore tradition. His songs include Mi sono innamorato di te, Vedrai, vedrai and Se stasera sono qui.

Walter Malgoni (1924–2008), born Gualtiero Malgoni in Milan, was an Italian composer, lyricist and arranger. His jazz-influenced melodic writing helped shape Italian popular song in the 1950s and 1960s. His best-known songs include Guarda che luna, associated with Fred Buscaglione, and Tua, made famous by Jula de Palma.