It was 2000 and the cafe was located at the Saint- Jean » next to Place des Abbesses. Giovanni Mirabassi used it as his meeting spot, right next to Sacre-Coeur. This is a pale monument to the bloody victory by the reactionary forces over Paris Commune. He referred to himself at that time as a libertarian. This is illustrated in the album Avanti! With its songs of freedom and partisan songs such as Imagine and Le temps des cerises, it is a great album! El pueblo Unido Jamas sera Vencido was the introduction to the solo album. It showed that the artist had faced his responsibilities and acknowledged his limitations » in isolation. The album was released and the Perugia native pianist was discovered by a large audience. This changed the career path of a man who was originally destined to be a lawyer for his entire life. I was two years old when my father had a piano at home. From that time, I began playing the piano. My first five lessons on piano were taken at sixteen. The five last ones took place at twenty-two. » (…) Giovanni Mirabassi was a child of Chopin, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Keith Jarrett. He left Paris, France, in 1992 on a whim. At 21 years old, Mirabassi was full of dreams, but he soon had to face the harsh realities of his life as a self-taught individual. He did odd jobs, accompanied (committed) singers but never lost his connection with jazz. He had to work backstage for quite some time before stepping into the spotlight. In 1998, his duet debut was followed by the recording of En bonne et du forme, his first album. He then began a successful career as an architect with Architectures. This album was recorded with Louis Moutin, Daniele Mencarelli, and is still available for purchase. We hear his unique rhythm and its shifts in the second album. Avanti has the same style of playing! The pianist distinguishes itself later by using simple phrases. His delicate touch and romantic feelings that are elicited from interwoven finely cut lines recall his talent for melody. Che Guevara once said that true revolution is fueled by a deep feeling of love. This is not about politics, but aesthetics…and there are no boundaries to this field. Giovanni Mirabassi is an admired musician who has won numerous music awards. At an early stage, he imposed his style on the French jazz scene, and then at an international level, as his latest album testifies: Live @ The Blue Note, Tokyo, which is the last of a remarkable trilogy with drummer-percussionist Leon Parker and bassist Gianluca Renzi. He was also a member of another trio (Air ))), in Good Company : with Flavio Boltro and Glen Ferris, trombonists. It’s back to the future !… in 2011. Giovanni Mirabassi remains faithful to Saint Jean ….. He will release a sequel to Avanti! which he has called, with a hint of irony:! Adelante! To snub the Japanese who bought Avanti’s catalogue, I chose this title! To which I do not have any legal rights. In the name of free enterprise», I was taken from my work. Eleven years on, the pianist with the fire in his eyes is still a dedicated artist. He was always close to politics, believing that it is a noble matter that creates the conditions for people living together. He is sorry that his fellow musicians have lost the right to speak out on urban life today more than ever. Giovanni Mirabassi is proud of his opinions and to stand up for his views. Artists must find their place in society again. He has to play a dialectical part and challenge established authority to ignite people’s minds. He remained true to his philosophy and went to Fidel’s country to record his album in the Abdala Studio, Havana. And, what’s more, it was recorded on May 1st! This album is dedicated the revolution. Revolution is said to be a thing of the passé, but in fact it is not. Although a little left-wing, or “a gauche,” as the French call it, he is not gauche at the piano. )… Giovanni Mirabassi knows about Castro’s role and the effects of the embargo that, in his view, has hindered any chance of opening Cuba up for democracy over the past decades. « Forward! », then… We can paraphrase the title of this album: Adelante! Giovanni Mirabassi plays essentially solo, which is a form in which the canto pianist excels. He is joined by a trio of musicians, Irakere, who perform the piece Yo me quedo, written by Pablo Milanes. Angela Elvira Perez, his mother, sings a spontaneous version Hasta siempre. This song is the most beloved of all Cuban songs, which can be heard in Avanti. (2000). (2000). Although the approach is similar, the urgency is greater. It is important to choose sides » Giovanni Mirabassi is a master of chromatic scales, and fervent rhythm. He gives life and soul to the 88 ivory keys and ebony key, and underlines the melodic content in a repertoire that is mainly Spanish-language. « My aim was to return to the melodies as they are, and trust their sense of urgency, responsibility and intrinsic freedom ». These qualities can be applied not only to songs that are emblematic of South America, such as Gracias a la vida from Mercedes Sosa but also to tunes that pay homage to the enduring memory of the Spanish Civil War. This French-turned-Italian has taken up many songs from Douce France, such as Le chant des Canuts. A lyric that gives all its power to workers’ struggle and a few others, including Graine d’anar, Le fiche rouge, both by Leo Ferre, Aragon, which are two names that are still very much alive today. Giovanni Mirabassi isn’t trying to be a showman (using marketing in Renaud fashion), nor to simply display his life as a dedicated man who works in the field. I will apply economic alternatives to my work, and I am deeply concerned about artistic autonomy and equitable sharing. Although it is true that one must start with oneself, I don’t plan to dress up like Che Guevara. The music should speak for itself. This is the only way to reach the hearts of people without being involved in politics every day. It is different from defending a building. These songs are powerful, and God knows the power of their words! Contentious music can be very powerful. It is a cry for freedom that unites all who listen to it. This album was created to remind me of all the ideas and challenges I support and fight for. It’s also a tribute for those who worked hard to create a better world. Unfortunately, we seem to be trying to make it worse. » Jacques Denis – So Jazz- octobre 2011 from http://www.mirabassi.com
