Italian jazz piano sensation Tony Pancella has been on the jazz scene since the late 80s. He won Italian jazz competitions and made the pilgrimage to New York in 1991, where he played with Virginia Mayhew and studied with the late James Williams. He found his way to Larry Willis for more instruction and the two later toured as a duo in Europe.
Mapleshade, through its owner Pierre Sprey, recorded Tony and Larry in Sept. 2004 in a live mastering to two track analog tape. No mixing board, nor filtering, equalization or overdubbing was used. The sonics on Alter Ego are the usual pristine SACD-like quality for which Mapleshade is highly regarded.
Song selection is varied with two Willis numbers, one from Pancella, and jazz standards from Duke Ellington and Miles Davis and others. The communication between the Italian wunderkind and the American master is uncanny. It’s as if there are four hands on one keyboard. Willis’ compositions – Annika’s Lullabye and To Wisdom, The Prize – are rich and deeply satisfying.
Though strictly done in a jazz idiom, there is a classical concert hall ambiance present. It would have been helpful for the liner notes to have mentioned which pianist was on the right and the left channel. The cover photo, however, shows from a front view that Willis is to Pancella’s left. [But it could have been reversed for artistic reasons…Ed.] Both are playing Fazioli pianos, known for their fine tone.
For discerning fans of jazz piano duos, Alter Ego, would be a wise purchase both for the fabled Mapleshade soundstage and for the simpatico between the seasoned veteran, Willis, and his talented Italian protégé, Pancella.
TrackList: Alter Ego, Annika’s Lullabye, To Wisdom, The Prize, Just Wait and See, Don’t Blame Me, Single Petal of a Rose, Alone Together, Blue in Green
– Jeff Krow
