Andrea Abbadia’s homage to Cool Jazz is not only a tribute to the great saxophonist, but a revival of cool jazz, which, while making some of the acquisitions of the revolutionary bebop its own, provides a more relaxed version, in some ways singable, devoid of some harmonic harshness and with less convoluted melodic lines, with not a few references to classical music. The performance favors the tempos and the middle registers and creates atmospheres that are sometimes very rarefied: the rhythm sections weave soft and swinging carpets for the improvisations of the soloists who, seem to want to “discuss” in a calm way around an interesting topic. While maintaining the typical energy of boppers, the performance does not flaunt the extraordinary technical qualities of the musicians, but is in favor of the construction of singable melodic lines, concealing the signs of fatigue and effort. It is a style that rediscovers the melodic content of jazz, and prefers a more relaxed dimension of rhythms. Most of the pieces are from the repertoire of the Gerry Mulligan quartet, the choice to include the guitar gives the concert that necessary character of modernity, the combination of the sounds of the baritone and the guitar excites the audience. Playing this repertoire with Irish musicians is stimulating and productive, and gives the concert the international and liberating character that jazz can give.

The quartet will also enrich their repertoire of the night with some original compositions.