29-year-old Italian pianist Tommaso Perazzo started playing piano at the age of five, showing from the beginning a strong predilection for jazz and blues.

Although little known here in the UK, he has a reputation across Europe and the US as one of today’s finest young jazz pianist, attested here by the presence of legendary bassist Buster Williams (Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Sphere, among others).

As well as three original compositions by Tommaso and one from the trio’s drummer Marcello Cardillo, there are two compositions by Buster Williams (Christina and Where Giants Dwell), plus covers of Wayne Shorter’s Footprints, and Mulgrew Miller’s Soul Leo.

“Tommaso and Marcello are two truly gifted musicians. I so much enjoyed making this record with them. I hope you the listener enjoy it also.” - Buster Williams.

1. Back At The Right Spot!
2. Alba Sul Mare
3. Kind Of Blues
4. Christina
5. Where Giants Dwell
6. Footprints
7. Soul Leo
8. Ricordi

Recorded at The Steiner Studios, Brooklyn, New York, on June 14th, 2023, this wonderfully sculpted new recording on the energetically-charged Back At The Right Spot! and then we get the melodious piano work of Alba Sul Mare (sunrise on the sea), the playfully upbeat finger-snapper Kind Of Blues and the articulate, veritably crystalline balladry of Christina (dedicated to Williams’ granddaughter).

Along next is the sweepingly ornate Where Giants Dwell which is itself backed seamlessly by their organically engaging cover of Wayne Shorter’s classic Footprints, the set rounding out on the groovy ensemble piece Soul Leo, coming to an all too soon close on the shimmering Ricordi.

Musicians:
Tommaso Perazzo: piano
Buster Williams: bass
Marcello Cardillo: drums

The album as a whole is a testament to a mentor becoming a collaborator with two talented musicians. Williams was not the leader, but rather the rudder for the adventurous trio. While Perazzo and Cardillo are Italian natives, they didn’t meet each other until 2015 when they attended the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. “We became close friends and got together right away,” says Cardillo, “We played in competitions,” Perazzo adds, “and hung a lot.”

As for the naming of the album title Portrait of a Moment, Cardillo says, “We wanted to convey the vibe of having the opportunity to be in a classroom with Buster as our mentor and how that evolved into him being a collaborator in the studio. It’s unique. It’s a portrait of that day.”

Perazzo, Cardillo, Williams – Portrait of A Moment Tour
June TBD – Peperoncino Jazz Festival (NYC)
July 6 – Levanto Music Festival – (Liguria)
July 7 – Pisa Jazz Festival – (Tuscany)
July 8 – Ancona Jazz Summer Festival – (Marche)
July TBD – (Rome)
July 11 – Masseria Torre di Nebbia – (Puglia)
July 12 – “Note di Luna Piena” – Santa Maria di Leuca – (Puglia)
July 13 – Peperoncino Jazz Festival – (Calabria)

Where Giants Dwell - Live in Studio (Tommaso Perazzo - Marcello Cardillo - Buster Williams) [Official Video]

www.tommasoperazzo.com

www.marcellocardillo.com