Canadian singer Daniela Nardi has sung everything, from classical music to pop to punk to country and jazz, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when she says, in her bio, that her music is “EarthyModernPopJazzWorldCool.”
But her new album, Espresso Manifesto - The Songs of Paolo Conte! is quite specific. The recording was made in Italy with Italian musicians, and it’s a tribute to the legendary Paolo Conte (who is something of the Jacques Brel of Italy, but more off-the-wall).
Espresso Manifesto drops in May, and in advance of the release Nardi took some time to talk to CBC Music about why she decided to focus solely on the music of the idiosyncratic Conte.
Q: For anyone unfamiliar with Conte, what’s the one thing they should know?
A: His work has to be some of the best jazz-pop music. From hot jazz to bar room tangos, his music is the music of memories, poetic fragments of colours, images and fantasies.
Q: He’s such a one-of-a-kind. What made you decide to make an album of Conte covers?
A: I chose Conte because he is so one of a kind. His compositions, his lyrics, his melodies, it all speaks to me, resonates with me. There was a world in his music that made sense to me. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I too am a songwriter so his approach speaks to me more than his contemporaries. He doesn’t take shortcuts in his work, he doesn’t cater to usual clichés — either lyrically or musically. His musical world is where simplicity and complexity co-exist, and that intrigues me.
Q: What place does Conte have in the heart of Italians?
A: Conte is highly revered, he is a legend. Before he embarked on his solo career, he was a well recognized songwriter for some of Italy’s most famous singers like Celentano, Patty Pravo, Caterina Caselli. He is considered more of a thinking man’s artist and yet everyone has been touched by his music in one way or another. He is undeniably one of the most influential writers that country has produced.
Q: You made the album with Italian jazz musicians — they’re amazing players. Did they have advice for how to tackle Conte, musically?
A: Yes, I was very fortunate to have had the chance to record with some of Italy’s A-list jazz musicians, like Fabrizio Bosso, Fausto Mesolella, Gabriele Mirabassi and Dario Rosciglione, just to name a few. It was an interesting process to work on Conte’s songs with them because they truly followed my lead. They wanted to know what my ideas were and then we would construct from that starting point. They all gave of themselves musically, they were so generous with their ideas, their talents. If there was one person in the bunch who gave additional artistic direction I would say it was Fausto Mesolella. He is a legendary guitarist who has worked with Conte. He was so generous in helping us turn the songs around and making them our own.
Paolo Conte performing “Via Con Me”:
Q: Conte’s lyrics can be kind of, well, odd (e.g. “Chips, chips” from the song "Via Con Me"). What’s that all about?
A: Conte is playful with language. I don’t even think he knows himself what that is all about. He doesn’t speak English very well though he has written some songs in English. I think it’s just one of those things, those little happy accidents where the word came to mind and it fit musically into the song. So the words “chips, chips” are more about being a percussive effect than adding any kind of meaning to the song.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the songs on the album?
A: “Via Con Me” is what every love story is about: escape. Conte is asking his lover to come away with him. Let’s forget about these places, these troubles, people we have known. Let me wrap you up in a warm bathrobe, let’s watch the dancing lights, let’s escape. It’s wonderful, I dream of you.
“Gioco D’Azzardo” says love is a gamble. Within a long look, something is explained. Some of our words were salted, tasting like the sea. The game was mine. I was very clear and sly. I was glad because I did love but I did lose. We pretended we were lost but really we were in love.
"Nina,” with lyrics written by Eler Rovatti. Nina, so splendid, my love. You are devoted to your love for me, you try very hard. You try without me noticing – but I do notice. I notice how gentle you are, like a flower. You are bewitching, you are poetry. You are a gift from God.
Q: You may be introducing some Canadian audiences to Conte’s music. What do you think he’d say about that?
A: He would be very happy about that. I think as any artist, I think it would be personally satisfying to know that more people are hearing the music, that it’s reaching more people and that more people are being touched by it. He has toured extensively in Europe. He hasn’t been to Canada, let alone North America enough. Maybe we can start a “Bring Conte to Canada” movement!
This interview has been condensed and edited
Related links
Amy Cervini digs deep to honour Blossom Dearie
Susie Arioli Sets a new standard with All The Way
Paolo Conte at Nonesuch Records