Les Amants (2004)

"Pieranunzi put together a series of pieces that seamlessly combine the rich culture of the string quartet with the improvisational verve of a jazz chamber trio. The result, Les Amants , successfully marries these two traditions in a way that is respectful to both, balancing them perfectly in a combination that is dramatic without being melodramatic, sweet without being syrupy, and completely accessible without losing a certain sense of exploration. The music, for the most part, leans to the romantic, with just a hint of melancholy. But as successful as he is at blending the two ensembles into a conversant whole, the project would fall apart if Pieranunzi, along with Johnson and Giuliani, was anything less than a masterful improviser. Les Amants imbues a rich sense of the Mediterranean, evoking clear images of turquoise seas and the smell of fresh sea air. Les Amants is clearly another success." (Allaboutjazz)