I Compani - Luna Triste: Music Composed by Nino Rota & Bo van de Graaf

Luna Triste is the first album of I Compani's to make a move and break out of the "strictly Nino Rota" repertoire. They may have still been performing Rota's music in front of a film screen for Federico Fellini films, but Bo Van De Graaf, the group's composer, arranger, and leader -- as well as a killer alto and soprano sax player -- was gaining more confidence as he got to know his group's strengths and weaknesses. Here, for instance, the album opens with Rota's stunningly risqué tarantella "Fortunella." Van der Graaf's crew moves the tune into an improvisation shortly after the harmony and melody are established. Read More