30/04/2025
I am overcome by this amazing review by José Ramón, La Habitación del Jazz from Madrid!
This album is more than just a musical collaboration; it's a true love story. Lyricism, emotion, sensitivity, and storytelling come together in "Song."
(translated to English)
They have just released “Song,” their first duet album, although several songs appeared on each of their separate albums.
Pallatto has these kind words for Sparrow: “I write this with gratitude and love for Sparrow, my inspirational partner in life and music.”
The album opens with the title track, "Song." Pallatto says, "Sparrow always has the best CD titles." A delicate and beautiful song, composed by both of them.
This is followed by "The Ferris Wheel," which begins with a solemn introduction by Sparrow that draws us into a profound and, to some extent, pathetic theme. A waltz, a dance, an emotion.
“Monk Is Drunk” is a clever homage to Thelonious Monk, one of the Sparrow compositions they’ve performed over the years and which they call “Sparrow Classics.”
"Jim De Jong" was written in honor of a recently deceased friend. Pallato repeatedly mentions the title and s**ts this emotionally charged song. Sparrow brings extraordinary drama to the mix .
Then comes the beautiful song “Stare Ahead,” dark, with Pallatto’s moving voice and Sparrow’s no less moving piano.
As the title suggests, "Sparrow's Solo" is a beautiful solo piano song, somewhat dark as well, but extremely sensitive. A minimalist composition with aromas of the French composer Erik Satie.
In "Tomorrow," Pallatto and Sparrow thrill us once again. Satie once again soars in the recording studio.
"Jobim" is a song written by both of them in memory of the great Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Pure romanticism. Pallatto's voice and Sparrow's piano blend with astonishing ease.
"Tico's Lust" in Pallatto's words: “With my lyrics based on Sparrow's extensive composition, it became a reimagined musical fable from my high school days with my classmate Tico (Lee Alden Warren).” A great piece with a French style that could easily be part of a musical show.
Regarding “Epilogue,” Pallatto tells us: “Epilogue is a piece recorded for Sparrow’s “The Desert Rat Suite” in 1991, where our late friend Ron Rolland, “the voice,” handled the narration, and our new version gave me the opportunity to interpret the text and sing the chorus.” Indeed, Pallatto recites and sings over Sparrow’s piano, which has an astonishing facility for creating and transmitting profound sensations.
We're nearing the end of this fantastic album. We do so with a piano solo by Sparrow, "Another Solo," where he once again demonstrates his mastery of evoking profound moods, and "Cottage Grove," another of the so-called "Sparrow Classics," a track that begins with an energetic piano solo followed by Pallatto's s**t and improvisation in an expressive and playful conversation with the piano.
This album is more than just a musical collaboration; it's a true love story. Lyricism, emotion, sensitivity, and storytelling come together in "Song."
Congratulations to Joanie Pallatto and Bradley Parker-Sparrow for this work.
The Jazz Room
Pistas 1.Song 2.The Ferris Wheel 3.Monk Is Drunk 4.Jim De Jong 5.Stare Ahead 6.Sparrow's Solo 7.Tomorrow 8.Jobim 9.Tico's Lust 10.Epilog...
