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| (Screenshot by Russell) |
Since October last year Italian-born, NYC-resident pianist Rossano Sportiello has been live streaming on a weekly basis from his Greenwich Village flat. Most weeks Sportiello has a guest musician with him, this evening fellow Italian, guitarist Pasquale Grasso joined him to play an hour's worth of choice standards.
As our duo began to play Out of Nowhere it was striking how large Pasquale Grasso's hands are! Tal Farlow was noted for his wide span on the fretboard, Grasso appears to have a similar gift/advantage. Our host, Sportiello, exudes warmth, smiling all the while, a most elegant pianist utilising his classical background, a master of Harlem stride and other styles.
I Cover the Waterfront, Have You Met Miss Jones?, our duo weaving in and out of one another's solo lines, Sportiello with his back to Grasso, a trusting, telepathic pairing. Grasso's solo rendition of Have You Met Miss Jones? held the online audience spellbound - what a great player! Anything Mr Grasso can do...the ever-elegant Mr Sportiello treated us to a Neapolitan song from his youth.
There's No You (recorded by Jo Stafford and Frank Sinatra), beautifully played, brought us almost to the end of a most enjoyable set. Almost...Sportiello thought it a good idea to go out on Sweet Georgia Brown. Boy! These guys can play! Russell
Set list: Out of Nowhere; Nostalgia; Pennies from Heaven; I Cover the Waterfront; Soon; Have You Met Miss Jones?; a Neapolitan song; There's No You; Sweet Georgia Brown.
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