We all loved Italia '90 but for Till Brönner the musical decades were the 70s & 80s when, he says, “Italy created a kind of pan-European sound and an atmosphere that was formative for an entire generation.” What better way to celebrate a nation in sound then than a new album?
Brönner has worked with countless jazz musso's over the years but this is a dream line-up of Till (flugelhorn, trumpet, vocals, synthesizers, brass, background vocals), Roberto Di Gioia (he of Web Web and many more on piano, electric piano, synthesizers, mellotron, organ, keyboards, synth arrangements), Nicola Conte (guitar), Bruno Müller (guitar), Pietro Lussu (piano, electric piano), Alberto Parmegiani (guitar), Magnus Lindgren (flutes, saxophones, reeds & woodwinds, woodwind arrangements), Christian von Kaphengst (double bass, electric bass), Ameen Saleem (double bass, electric bass), Teppo 'Teddy Rock' Mäkynen (drums), Gabriel Prado (percussion, background vocals), Arne Schumann (programming, recording, mixing), Katrin Mickiewicz (background vocal); quite a cast?
Brönner's 2008 album 'Rio' caught the ear of Italian Latin jazzdance expert Nicola Conte (he of Schema Records, last seen HERE) so, it's no surprise Conte would want to get onboard for as a producer for his lounge jazz easy listening exotica OST in a 'la dolce vita' groove with some much loved tunes.
And that would also include guest vocalists like Mario Biondi on 'Via Con Me' (instant hit as, "It's Wonderfull"), Giovanni Zarrella on the 60s International hit 'Quando, Quando, Quando', Chiara Civello ('Parole Parole' - watch out jazz dancers for when it speeds up but where's the 12" version?), Mandy Capristo ('In Alto Mare') and Sera Kalo (you'll love the 'Miles' phreak fusion jazz-funk of 'L'Unica Chance').
Plus, Till's debut as a vocalist, the single, 'Viva La Felicità", a cover version of theme from "Il Signor Rossi Cerca La Felicità", a 1970s Italian cartoon series (see review HERE), we said Till's horn is as amazing as ever, along with, what sounds like the Schema house band, why the fade out?
Unfortunately, those no 12" mix on the album but there's a small gripe and everything is covered by Till's exquisite playing and there's also a "flute vs Donald Byrd"/OST style of 'Il Trucido E Lo Sbirro', the Latin swing of 'La Donna Invisibile' and cool Rio breeze of 'Travolti Di Un Insolito Destino'.
It's an album that packs a Italia cool of Tony Curtis/Roger Moore that musically represented by the likes of Ennio Morricone & Piero Piccioni (Ed. who are equally present on Temporary Blessings new single that's released on the same day - see review HERE) along with Italian cuisine and cycling precision, this is 'Italia 2025'; Arrivederci!
BUY LINK: https://till.lnk.to/ITALIA
Artist: Till Brönner
Title: Italia
Release date: 5th September, 2025
Label: earMusic / Edel
Cat. No: BAM001RE
Format: 2 x LP Vinyl /CD / Digital
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