In short, "Aria" is a cultured and accessible album, capable of speaking to both opera lovers and contemporary jazz enthusiasts.

Aria marks the latest chapter in pianist Roy Powell's long-running collaboration with bassist Lorenzo Feliciati, a partnership that began in 2007 and has since produced nearly two decades of innovative recordings and performances. Their shared exploration of Italian music through a jazz lens first took shape in 2009 with the album Napoli, a project rooted in the songs of Naples.
Joined by drummer Lucrezio de Seta, the trio discovered a chemistry so inspiring that they were compelled to continue their journey.
Puccini's timeless melodies, long admired by Powell, provide the foundation for Aria. The pianist recalls how jazz legend Miles Davis once considered a collaboration with Gil Evans centered on Puccini's Tosca--a project that never materialized, but planted a seed that ultimately bore fruit in this album.
In many ways, Aria continues a rich jazz tradition of reinterpreting material from musicals, film scores, and the Great American Songbook. Puccini's arias, with their lyrical beauty and harmonic depth, offer fertile ground for improvisation, revealing unexpected colors and progressions when refracted through a jazz idiom.
The recording also features a spontaneous performance of the jazz standard My Funny Valentine, captured serendipitously on Valentine's Day. Reharmonized and expanded into an extended jam, the trio gives the classic a fresh perspective. Powell's gentle original Les Belles Femmes offers a heartfelt dedication to the remarkable women in his family, a personal and intimate counterpoint to the operatic drama elsewhere on the album.
The journey culminates with perhaps Puccini's most iconic aria, Nessun Dorma. Powell recalls the goosebumps he felt upon first hearing Pavarotti sing this masterpiece, and its majestic form and triumphant spirit make it a fitting conclusion to an album that bridges two great musical traditions.

Track Listing

• Vissi D´Arte
• E Lucean Le Stelle
• Stretch
• Intermezzo
• O Mio Babbino Caro
• Soseeji
• Valzer Di Musetta
• My Funny Valentine
• Les Belles Femmes
• Nessun Dorma

Additional Details

Label: Losen Records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 48:46 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/06/26

UPC: 7090025833212