Il Bello Del Jazz (2006)

"Italian pianist Roberto Magris's early influences (Wynton Kelly, Tommy Flanagan, Bill Evans, Kenny Drew, Jaki Byard, Randy Weston, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Paul Bley, and Steve Kuhn) still resonate with him. In 1998 he formed the Europlane Orchestra. In 2003 he collaborated with U.S. expatriate alto saxophonist Herb Geller, recording his first major-label CD, "Il Bello Del Jazz". With just a few exceptions ("Some Other Spring," Benny Carter's "Key Largo," and Al Cohn's "Ah Moore" among them), the music by pianist Roberto Magris' Europlane consists of recent originals including four by the leader and two from altoist Herb Geller. However the music is mostly straight-ahead jazz, mixing together medium-tempo romps with lyrical ballads. Magris and Geller are the main soloists, guitarist Darko Jurkovic guests on four numbers, and bassist Rudi Engel and drummer Gabriele Centis are excellent in support in the lead voices. It's a set that grows in interest with each listen." (Scott Yanow, Allmusic)