Playground Paolo Russo Trio

• 1 Schisseando 07:00
• 2 Novelletta 05:26
• 3 On the Edge of the Abyss 02:22
• 4 Dublin Road 01:13
• 5 Postkort 04:04
• 6 Gocce 01:38
• 7 Sufrimiento dulce 03:17
• 8 Luminescent 01:34
• 9 In Search of Knowledge 02:17
• 10 Ten Horses 03:46
• 11 Immanent 01:07
• 12 Ballata breve 05:07
• 13 The Upcoming Shift 03:05
• 14 Transcendent 00:47
• 15 Jazzonga 01:22
• 16 Arcobaleno 03:04
• 17 Rising above the Mist 04:10
• Total Runtime 51:19

Info for Playground

Following the success of 'Overland' on Odradek Jazz and 'Imaginary Soundtrack' on Odradek World, versatile Italian musician Paolo Russo presents 'Playground', a whimsical journey inspired by the freedom of children at play. All the music on the album was composed or improvised by Russo on an array of instruments: bandoneon, piano, synth, percussion.

'Playground' is an expression of Russo's 'inner child', exploring the fantastical world of sounds and colours that one, two, or more musical instruments together can generate when governed and played by a single creative mind. As in any playground, there are rules, but excitement and challenge are to the fore, transcending boundaries and unchaining the brilliant inventiveness of the imagination.

The 17 tracks on this album represent for Russo a journey navigating the tightrope between organisation and chaos, sacred and profane, construction and improvisation, tonal and atonal, structure and anarchy; between the velvety, mysterious nostalgia of the bandoneon and the majestic, crystalline elegance of the piano.

Paolo Russo, bandoneon

Paolo Russo
Born in Pescara, Italy, in 1969, based in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1996. He started to play the piano at the age of 9. After leaving the University, where he studied Architecture for 5 years, Paolo dedicated himself completely to music. He is educated both in classical music and in rhythmic music. He has performed all over Europe, as well as Greenland, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Thailand, Tanzania, Algeria, Mozambique and Japan.

He studied music in New York with Richie Beirach and in Buenos Aires with Néstor Marconi. He has published 10 albums: "Alchemy" - 2004 (best 5 "Danish" releases of the year 2004); "Oltretango" - 2005; "Doble A-nima" - 2007; "Nuevotrioporteño" - 2008; "Il segreto" - 2009; "Evocándote" - 2010 (Danish Music Awards 2011 nomination in the category "world music"); "Archipelago" Trio ARC, with Thommy Andersson on bass and Josefine Cronholm on vocal - 2013 (Danish Music Awards 2013 nomination in the category "vocal jazz", Danish Art Council Prize 2013); "Fellini Goes Jazz" - 2014; "Bandoneon solo - Vol. I" - 2015; "Kattegat" - 2016. He has collaborated with many local and international artists, including Lelo Nika, Gianluigi Trovesi, Pablo Ziegler, Caroline Henderson, Howe Gelb, Stefano Bollani, Paolo Fresu, Nico Gori, Bo Stief, Etta Cameron, Kenny Werner, Line Kruse, Thomas Clausen, Robertinho Silva, Diego Figueiredo, Marilyn Mazur, Poul Krebs, Jesper Bodilsen, Emanuele Cisi, Diego Schissi, Calixto Oviedo, Karima Nayt.

Paolo has composed music for theatre plays in Copenhagen: "Rejsen til i morgen" and "Pan" - Anemone Teatret “ 2000/2002, "Frimærkeballet" - Bådteatret - 2001/02. In 2001, he discovered the bandoneón, which has become crucial in his productions and live performances. In 2002 he was the main subject for the documentary film "The illogical instrument", directed by Arun Sharma. He realized soundtracks for the movies "See you in the future" and "Polizzi, my little Brooklyn" by Camilla Roos Overbye. His bandoneón playing can be also appreciated on the soundtrack of the movie "Love is all you need", by Danish film director Susanne Bier (2012). Together with the Danish producer Mikkel Maltha, he made the new soundtrack of the popular Danish sit-com "Klovn".

He is at the moment presenting his solo bandoneon album "Bandoneon Solo - Vol. I", an original interpretation of some of the most well-known tunes from the great American songbook. He is also currently playing with his duo project together with the outstanding Latvian cellist Ruslan Vilensky, presenting the new album "Kattegat". Among his recent productions, "Paolo Russo plays Fellini" - a tribute to the music of Nino Rota and other Italian film music composers. Active also with the Cuban/Italian quintet "Latin Syndicate", with the trio "ARC" - together with Swedish singer Josefine Cronholm and Swedish bass player Thommy Andersson.

Among his collaborations: the RUSSO/BOLLANI/FRESU TRIO, with two of the greatest Italian jazz musicians: Stefano Bollani and Paolo Fresu. Furthermore, he has collaborated with the Radio Underholdningsorkester (2007), with the Sjælland Symfoniorkester (2011), with the University of Southern Denmark Symphony Orchestra (since 2009; conductor: Saul Zaks) and with the Orkester Midtvest (2012). To mention also his unique and suggestive solo recital on piano and bandoneón, which he has presented in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Argentina and Uruguay since 2002.

He has performed in many festivals and in some of the most important concert halls around the world: Berliner Konzerthaus (Berlin); Musikverein (Wien); St. George (Bristol); Carnegie Hall (New York City); Symphony Space (New York City - March 2016). It is possible to appreciate his vast production in the video portrait “Las Teclas” (youtube), introducing a musical anthology of live concert and performances presented in Denmark throughout the years 2011-2012, as well as in a vast number of videos on his YouTube channel.

This album contains no booklet.