Putumayo Presents: Italia

Putumayo Presents | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Putumayo World Music
• ASIN: B001SNXSVG
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,153 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Pop > Euro Pop > Italian Pop
  • #20 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Italy
  • #21 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > General

Track Listings

1. Il Girasole - Simone Lo Porto

2. Il Mare Mi Salva - Rossomalpelo

3. Colpo di Coda - Alessandro Pitoni

4. Il Principiante - Bandabardo

5. Balla Con Me - Giorgio Conte

6. Gina - Lu Colombo & Maurizio Geri Swingtet

7. Il Viaggio - Gianmaria Testa

8. La Piccola Inglesina - Lino Straulino

9. Iquique - Rocco De Rosa

10. L'Americano - Marco Calliari

11. Me So Mbriacat0 - Alessandro Mannarino

Editorial Reviews

On May 19th, Putumayo will present Italia, a collection of contemporary Italian music featuring some of Italy's best singer-songwriters. The CD includes a diverse array of styles that reflect Italian traditions, modern trends and the diverse, globalized sounds of Italy today.

Italia features well-known singer-songwriters Giorgio Conte and Gianmaria Testa, who combine poetry and humor with stirring melodies and lovingly crafted compositions. Simone Lo Porto, Alessandro Pitoni, Alessandro Mannarino and Rossomalpelo frontman Serge Gaggiotti are all representatives of the contemporary Italian singer-songwriter scene. Lino Straulino returns to the traditional folk music of his native Friuli region in northeastern Italy for inspiration.

The popular group Bandabardò draws its influences from European folk, rock and pop music. Film score composer Rocco De Rosa blends Italian folk music with diverse influences from the immigrant communities in today's Italy. Lu Colombo had two disco hits in the 1980s, but in recent years, she has joined forces with jazz guitarist Maurizio Geri to record timeless songs that would more likely be heard in cafés rather than on dance floors.

Many contemporary Italian artists are making a conscious effort to pay tribute to the classic Italian popular music of the 1950s. During those years, American jazz was blended with Italian ballads and folk music to create carefree, romantic songs. Marco Calliari is a guitarist and singer of Italian heritage who was raised in Quebec and turned away from the heavy metal music he performed in his youth to focus on classic 1950s Italian songs such as "L'Americano".

A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the sale of the CD will be donated to EMERGENCY, an Italian organization that provides medical and surgical treatment to the civilian victims of war, landmines and poverty around the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't stop playing this one!, September 13, 2009

By 

D. Kniseley (Simi Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Putumayo Presents: Italia (Audio CD)

I don't understand Italian yet this CD feels as if I can understand the thoughts or emotions of the vocalists. Certain songs have an indie-pop style that is so relaxing and easy to listen to. I could imagine sitting in a coffee house in Italy enjoying a latte. I've yet to be disappointed with Putomayo and this Italia CD is no exception. I play this for my Pilates class and they love it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical Chianti, July 14, 2009

By 

Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Putumayo Presents: Italia (Audio CD)

Putumayo's "Italia" is musical tiramisu. It's delightful, sweet, and all too brief (it clocks in it at 37 minutes) It's a souvenir snapshot of current Italian singer-songwriters. It's wonderful music for an evening of carbonara and Chianti.

The opening song, Simone La Porto's "Il Girasole" is an ode to the sunflower with a Brazilian flavor. Rossomalpelo's "Il Mare Mi Silva", Gianmaria Testa's "Balla con me" and Marco Calliari's "L'Americano" all have a delicious retro with an edge flavor, evoking postwar Italian music, but still rooted in the present day. Bandabardo's "Il Pricipiante" has a reggae vibe. Lino Straulino's "La Piccola Inglesina" sounds more like an old-fashioned Italian folk ballad. Rocco de Rosa's "Iquique" blends the jazz of Italy and Chile. While Lu Colombo and Maurizio Geri Swingtet's "Gina" is a ballad that's against alcoholism, the closing song from Alessandro Mannarino compares love with intoxication.

"Italia" is a savory compilation. It contains a simple pasta recipe, and it also serves a good cause. A portion of the profits goes to EMERGENCY,to help the victims of war, landmines and poverty. Live la dolce vita with this music!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your (god)father's Italy, May 19, 2009

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Putumayo Presents: Italia (Audio CD)

Various Artists
"Putumayo Presents Italia"
(Putumayo, 2009)
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A really sweet set of modern Italian pop, with a gentle acoustic, adult pop-folk edge. Forget about those old Italian icons of accordions and mandolins, unless they're in a sexy tango or a country-flavored tune: this ain't your stereotypical "old country" Italian collection. This set opens with Simone Lo Porto's entrancing bossa-Americana flavored "Il Giralsoe," and moves into jazzy folk by the band Rossomalpelo and a tango ballad by Alessandro Pitoni... There's wide stylistic variety here, but a similar mellow tone and rich musicality throughout, with echos of Tom Waits, Bill Frissell, and any number of French acoustic music revivalists. I'm not readily tapped into the Italian musical scene but this album was a pleasant surprise; the more I listen, the more I like it. No sign of Paolo Conte, but then again there's no Mina or any eurodisco, either. A nice selection of a rich, vibrant contemporary scene, definitely worth checking out. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To World Music)