The first issue of Musica Jazz International is now available in English language, with previews of columns and articles. The cover story, dossier, interviews, and two accompanying CDs

Ayers died on March 4 in New York. The warm sound of his instrument has fallen silent, leaving an empty void. He was eighty-four years old and had been battling a long illness. His notes, once rays of sunshine in the jazz-funk and soul firmament, now float like precious dust in an endless sunset. The music world is left devastated and suspended, waiting for a final note that will never come. His vibraphone spoke directly to the heart, and every chord he played was a fragment of melancholic light—a thrill we now miss like a lost heartbeat. Roy Ayers leaves behind a bittersweet void—a silence filled with memories in...

Let’s start with a song: “Laura.” David Raksin composed the music for the film of the same name (released in Italy as Vertigine), and it came about in a unique way. It was 1944. Director Otto Preminger considered using Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” as a leitmotif and asked Raksin, a renowned film composer, for his opinion. Raksin was categorical. In his opinion, the song had nothing to do with the plot of the film, which was a romantic noir about a detective investigating the death of a woman who ends up under a spell. Preminger replied that if Raksin had a better idea, he should bring it to him...

ARTIST Michele Polga ALBUM TITLE "Doors" LABEL Red Records ______________________________________________________________ Red Records’ revitalization continues with impressive results. Alongside landmark reissues, the label has released new works of artistic weight—Doors, by Vicenza-born saxophonist Michele Polga, among them. Polga hadn’t released an album under his name in nearly a decade, and this return is anything but incidental. The album features original compositions and a rendering of the standard Along Came Betty, brought to life by a responsive rhythm section. Lanzoni is a particularly sensitive accompanist, crafting luminous harmonies throughout. Polga—a musician’s musician who deserves wider recognition—displays the artistic maturity gained from twenty-five years of performance and recording. The album’s excellent audio quality is also worth noting, in keeping with Red...

ARTIST Tommaso Perazzo - Marcello Cardillo feat. Buster Williams ALBUM TITLE "Portrait of a Moment" LABEL Red Records ______________________________________________________________ Red Records continues to spotlight both historic figures and emerging talents, thanks to the discerning ear of producer Marco Pennisi. Portrait of a Moment captures a pivotal turning point for two promising young musicians: pianist Tommaso Perazzo (b. 1996) and drummer Marcello Cardillo (b. 1997). While this isn’t their debut (What’s Coming Next?, Musicamdo, 2019), it marks their international breakout—bolstered by the presence of jazz legend Buster Williams as an equal member of the trio. Big-name collaborations don’t always deliver artistically, but this is a true success. Operating within mainstream territory, the trio offers a program of original...