In the cover notes, Paolo Piangiarelli, producer of the CD for the Philology label, affirms in no uncertain terms: “Let me tell you that I have never met before a voice so beautiful, fitted with everything a jazz voice must have and, therefore, a so talented jazz singer …”. Certainly this statement is biased, but it is true and fully sharable. The work is excellent indeed and the name of Roberta Sdolfo can be associated to the work and the names of the few lucky jazz talents. The singer, on the Milanese jazz scene from years, shows up in this first record appointment supported by an elegant trio with Alberto Bonacasa on piano, Gianluca Alberti on double bass and Roberto Paglieri on drums. In some tracks, perform also Giampiero Spina and the great Massimo Minardi on guitar, Vittorio Sicbaldi on drums, and Tullio Ricci on sax. What strikes immediately of Roberta, is her warm and expressive voice also in the parlato parts introducing the tracks, but mostly her naturalness in the most demanding moments where she use it without any worry. And this is a prerogative only of the great singers with a successful career behind. The list of songs, although mostly standards (Ruby My Dear, Bye Bye Blackbird, Honeysuckle Rose, but also the funny Ma che bontà and Ma chi è quello lì by Mina and Ba Ba Baciami Piccina), do not seem already listened and this is not easy to obtain. The splendid sound reprise, without any detachable artifice, is always soft and natural and gives a final valuable touch to a CD that is excellent under any aspect.

Roberta Sdolfo

Il lato jazz del cuore

Philology

CD

Total Time 53’26’’

2011