Michael Weiss - Persistence (February 18, 2022 Cellar Live)

Michael Weiss will celebrate 40 years of living and working in NYC next year; a major milestone in a city full of brilliant jazz pianists. One of the busiest pianists and composers in jazz, Michael was a key member of the Johnny Griffin quartet for over 15 years, and is himself entering the status of jazz legend alongside some of his peers. A true double threat as a dazzling pianist along with a thoughtful and deep composer, Michael was recognized early on as a bright light in jazz, having won the BMI Thelonious Monk composer competition and place second in the Monk International Jazz Piano competition. With these accolades, it is fitting that Michael and the quartet choose to cover the Monk classic 'Epistrophy' on this fantastic album, his debut for Cellar Music Group.

In addition to the nod to Monk, Michael selects 4 of his original compositions on his Cellar Music Group debut, coupled with some lesser known standards by Jimmy van Heusen and Antonio Carlos Jobim, finished off with the Fats Waller staple, Jitterbug Waltz. The band for this recording is truly stellar. Eric Alexander is himself one of the great instrumentalists of his generation, and the perfect foil to Michael on this exciting recording. Paul Gill and Pete van Nostrand are veterans of the New York jazz scene and the feeling of joyful swing and near-kinetic interplay are immediately apparent from the first song. Together, this quartet of burning New York jazz veterans bring a sophistication and soul to the recordings that can only be attained from decades of playing in the jazz capital of the world.

Persistence is an apropros title for an album of musicians who have never given up on the mastery of their instrument, or this music. 

1. Persistence

2. Second Thoughts

3. Apres Vous

4. Only The Lonely

5. Jitterbug Waltz

6. Epistrophy

7. Once I Loved

8. Birthday Blues

Michael Weiss – piano

Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone

Paul Gill – bass

Pete van Nostrand - drums

All arrangements by Michael Weiss

Executive Producer: Cory Weeds and Shaukat Husain

Produced by Cory Weeds and Michael Weiss

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s in Englewood Cliffs, NJ on July 27, 2021

Engineered by Maureen Sickler

Mixed and mastered by Sheldon Zharko

Photography by Gulnara Khamatova

Design and layout John Sellards

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Harold Mabern - Mabern Plays Coltrane (December 2021 Smoke Sessions Records)

MABERN PLAYS COLTRANE, a vibrant live recording of Harold Mabern performing the music of John Coltrane with an all-star sextet including Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Steve Davis, John Webber, and Joe Farnsworth.

Mabern held a special reverence for John Coltrane. “He was very influential in my life and my playing, too,” Mabern once said. “After being around him and seeing what a great human being he was – man, I wish the whole world could have known John Coltrane.”

MABERN PLAYS COLTRANE is culled from the final three-nights of a three-week residency at Smoke’s annual year ending John Coltrane Festival that started in 2017 ended with these performances that Mabern and the band played in January 2018. The resulting recordings also produced two earlier albums: THE IRON MAN, which shined a spotlight on Mabern the performer and interpreter and offered a glimpse into a typical evening’s performance and MABERN PLAYS MABERN, which commemorated Mabern’s gifts as a composer and followed his untimely death at age 83 on September 17, 2019. Mabern Plays Coltrane is the album that was originally planned for those live recording sessions. Mabern had always played a key role in the festival since its inaugural edition in 2011. From the initial weeklong fest through its later three- and four-week incarnations, Mabern was the headliner for much of the annual run, an indication of both his appreciation for Coltrane as a forbear and mentor as well as his own vital role at Smoke.

“Playing John Coltrane's music with Harold was like tapping into the source,” says Farnsworth. “He was like the vortex, and it all flowed through him. It was intense. Having Harold on the stage, given how much he loved John Coltrane, it elevated the spirit of the music tenfold.” 

1. Dahomey Dance 07:13

2. Blue Train 10:42

3. Impressions 09:41

4. Dear Lord 05:36

5. My Favorite Things 11:47

6. Naima 09:09

7. Straight Street 10:51

Harold Mabern - piano

Vincent Herring - alto saxophone

Eric Alexander - tenor saxophone

Steve Davis - trombone

John Webber - bass

Joe Farnsworth - drums

Recorded Live January 5, 6 & 7, 2018 at SMOKE, NYC

Produced by Paul Stache & Damon Smith

Recorded by Paul Stache with Owen Mulholland & Jeff Citron

Mixed & Mastered by Chris Allen

Photography by Jimmy & Dena Katz

Design by Damon Smith & Paul Stache

All compositions by John Coltrane

except “My Favorite Things” by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

“Dear Lord” was previously included on The Iron Man: Live at Smoke

Eric Alexander appears courtesy of HighNote Records

Executive Producers: Paul Stache & Molly Johnson

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Mike LeDonne's The Groover Quartet + Big Band - It's All Your Fault (2021 HighNote Records)

Mike LeDonne belongs to an elite group of musicians — those who have mastered the piano AND the organ while creating original voices for each. However, here on It's All Your Fault, LeDonne sits down at the organ, puts his foot on the pedals and lays down some of the hippest organ licks you're likely to hear. Two groups are featured on this recording. Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet has had the rare opportunity to play and record together for twenty years and counting. They had no difficulty integrating their sound into this all-star big band put together by Mike and his preferred arranger and conductor, Dennis Mackrel. Recorded in the famed Van Gelder Studio and actually using the original Hammond C-3 organ that Jimmy Smith et al. used for their recordings, the music within this recording is adventurous. It's a continuation of the groove that was established years ago by organists interacting with big bands and it reveals to us the Blues, the Rhythm & Blues and the Jazz that Mike heard coming up through the jazz ranks.

1. It's All Your Fault (M. LeDonne) 6:35

2. Matador (G. Green) 6:46

3. Rock With You (R. Temperton / D. Myers) 6:11

4. Still (L. Richie) 6:55

5. Party Time (L. Morgan) 5:34

6. Bags and Brown (M. LeDonne) 5:17

7. Biggest Part of Me (D. Pack) 6:20

8. Blues for Jed (M. LeDonne) 7:53

Mike LeDonne’s Big Band (Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6):

Organ: Mike LeDonne (org)

Steve Wilson, Jim Snidero (as)

Eric Alexander, Scott Robinson (ts)

Jason Marshall (bs)

Jon Faddis, Frank Greene, Joe Magnarelli, Joshua Bruneau (tp)

Mark Patterson, Steve Davis, Dion Tucker, Doug Purviance (tb)

John Webber (b)

Peter Bernstein (g)

Joe Farnsworth (ds)

Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet (Tracks: 4, 7 & 8):

Mike LeDonne (org)

Eric Alexander (ts)

Peter Bernstein (g)

Joe Farnsworth (ds)

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Cory Weeds - O Sole Mio! Music From The Motherland (2021 Cellar Live)

Cory Weeds delivers a blistering set of Italian themed tunes backed up by one of the pre-eminent organs bands in jazz today!

The results speak for themselves: swinging bop lines executed by all, crackling rhythm section accompaniment and interaction, and an ensemble sound that underscores the values of swing, groove and participatory interaction over a carefully selected set of compositions--thanks to the support of Giulio Recchioni and the Italian Cultural Centre--that celebrate through reinvention and interpretation some great Italian music ("O Sole Mio," "Toma A Surriento"), as well as compositions taken from the rich history of contribution that Italian-Americans have brought to jazz and the American popular song (Marmarosa, Corea, Martino, Mancini).

Although to some, perhaps, the ideas presented here may appear on the surface to be disparate and tangentially connected: a jazz version of "O Sole Mio," a fifth instrumentalist added to a longstanding quartet or even the Hammond B3 organ in jazz (a relatively late addition to the music's instrumentarium with an unusual historical pedigree of roller rinks and makeshift churches), jazz has long been about thwarting normative conventions and looking for points of intersection that connect and unite players and sounds that span nationalities, race, language, gender and musical history.

1. O Sole Mio 07:14

2. Mr. Lucky 05:12

3. Speak Softly Love (Theme From The Godfather) 08:09

4. On The Stairs 05:55

5. Estate 07:22

6. Chick's Tune 06:11

7. Torna A Surriento 08:07

8. Moody Blues 06:01

9. Capricci di Camere (Whims OF Chambers) 06:22

Cory Weeds – alto saxophone

Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone

Mike LeDonne – Hammond B3 organ

Peter Bernstein – guitar

Joe Farnsworth - drums

Produced by Cory Weeds & Mike LeDonne

Recorded at Armoury Studios on October 6, 2019

Engineered, mixed and mastered by Chris Gestrin

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New York All-Stars (feat. Eric Alexander & Harold Mabern) - Burnin' in London (UBUNTU MUSIC September 7, 2018)

"Mabern really is a remarkable talent. At 81, he’s still playing with the passion of a man at least half his age and his ace pupil Eric Alexander continues to grow." Jazzwise

The New York All-Stars feature Eric Alexander on saxophone, Harold Mabern on piano, bassist Darryl Hall and drummer Bernd Reiter.  They play energetic and swinging music on the highest level, presented with the utmost professionalism and uninhibited enthusiasm.

Recorded at the legendary Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, London on 20 & 21 November 2017, Burnin’ in London, features six classic tunes including Harold Mabern’s own ‘Nightlife in Tokyo’ and a beautiful interpretation of Gershwin’s classic ‘Summertime’.

“The music on this album speaks for itself.  The interplay between Eric and Harold is magical, supported by the rock solid bass lines from Darryl and the exacting rhythmic underpinning of Bernd’s precision-like drumming,” says Martin Hummel, Ubuntu Music Director.  “…the album captures a moment in time when Eric was anchored in his musical sweet spot while the band – and the audience – hung on and coasted with every note along the blissful, energetic journey.”

Marius Beets - This Is Your Captain Speaking (MAXANTER RECORDS 2018)

Hypes come and go and boundaries are being crossed every time a Chinese tourist says cheese. It is easy to overlook that around the world real jazz albums also keep appearing with the regularity of the clock. Also in The Netherlands, which has a solid mainstream jazz scene, a great history of welcoming American musicians and, in the guise of Marius Beets, one of its most prominent bass players. Beets released This Is Your Captain Speaking on his Maxanter label. The album includes tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist (and brother of Marius) Peter Beets, guitarist Joe Cohn and drummer Willie Jones III. They perform ten original compositions by bandleader Marius Beets.

So there’s the cream of the crop delivering high-level improvisation, swing and a healthy dose of blues, inspired by the catchy and challenging tunes of Marius Beets. Eric Alexander is a master of execution who loves to explore the sonic extremes of his instrument. His seemingly effortless integration of these idiosyncracies in his stories, in themselves an ongoing evaluation of the work of Alexander’s heroes like George Coleman and John Coltrane, is striking. He enlivens the boppish The End Of The Affair and the Latin-type line of Dextro Energy with hip twists and lurid fragments of scales. The ending of his remarkably crafty solo during This Is Your Captain Speaking, a clever, blues-based Horace Silver-ish tune, is a bossy bark that must’ve cracked up people in the studio.

62-year old Joe Cohn, the son of saxophonist Al Cohn, who uses a prickly yet full sound, is never short on ideas, which he strings together with staccato notes and supple single lines. He sets fire to Tafkamp Is Still On The Scene, a funky vamp that segues into a driving 4/4 section. The interaction of Marius and his brother Peter, internationally acclaimed pianist, is special, perhaps not surprising considering their life-long association. Emandem especially reveals their subtle interplay of bass lines.

The abundance of hard bop/post bop makes This Is Your Captain Speaking highly enjoyable. The funky ode to Cannonball Adderley, Brother Julian, boogaloo-based Moody’s Groove and The One And Only, an album highlight in the tradition of mid-sixties avant-leaning Blue Note point out the group’s versatile use of the mainstream jazz language. Besides, the group also plays sweet and light – El Capitano, Carpe Diem. The overall sound is, in fact, pleasantly light without becoming lightweight. The crisp and clear sound of the crackerjack drummer Willie Jones III’s ride cymbal underlines that particular canvas. It is a contemporary sound, but also has a foot in the past, the early 70s Muse/Strata-East ‘feel’ in particular. The album is recorded at the studio of Beets, who partakes in myriad musical activities beside bass playing.

You can count on Marius Beets, the bass player. He’s a tasteful, highly skilled accompanist with a tremendous bottom groove. Beets also delivers a number of melodic solos with sustained momentum. Not only did he write an album of superb tunes, he also picked a world-class crew. Not a trace of hesitation by these gentlemen. Dig those solo entrances, time and again! Those are a joy to listen to, as much as the excellent development of their stories.

Marius Beets (bass)

Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone)

Joe Cohn (guitar)

Peter Beets (piano)

Willie Jones III (drums)

Dextro Energy

Brother Julian

El Capitano

The One And Only

Emandem

Tafkamp Is Still On The Scene

Carpe Diem

This Is Your Captain Speaking

The End Of The Affair

Moody’s Groove

Check out album info and the website of Marius Beets here.

Marius Beets

MAXANTER RECORDS

Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet - From the Heart (SAVANT RECORDS 2018)

Joining Mike LeDonne and his Groover Quartet on 'From the Heart' is the great drummer Mike Clark. After collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton and others, Clark has influenced a generation of percussionists and brings his own unmistakable style to two of the tracks.

For three decades Mike LeDonne has been an exceptional avatar of the Hammond B3 organ. Forged by his impressive jazz apprenticeship, with the likes of Milt Jackson, George Coleman and Benny Golson, LeDonne comes from a long and distinguished line of masters of that instrument. And for eighteen years, he's lead the Groover Quartet his formidable foursome consisting of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth.

1 Someday 5:41

2 From the Heart 8:22

3 You'll Never Know What You Mean to Me 6:58

4 Here Comes the Doctor 7:34

5 Come Back Baby 9:04

6 Fun Day 6:29

7 You Send Me 6:06

8 Then Came You 6:24

Mike LeDonne (Hammond B-3 organ)

Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone)

Peter Bernstein (guitar)

Joe Farnsworth (drums)

Mike Clark (drums on "From the Heart" and "Here Comes the Doctor")

Fukumi - Moon in Paris (2017)

Moon in Paris, recorded in New York – as Japanese singer Fukumi works with some of that city's top jazz talents – including Eric Alexander on tenor sax, Behn Gillece on vibes, David Hazeltine on piano, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums!

The instrumental core of the album is wonderful – very much in the Alexander/Hazletine camp – and Fukumi's a hell of a singer, too – one who can put forth the lyrics at one point, then scat wordlessly with a very melodic approach – a style that sounds especially nice next to the piano and vibes! Production is wonderful – lean, clean, and just the right mode to capture the interplay between the singer and the band – and all arrangements are by Hazeltine, who also plays a bit of Fender Rhodes. Titles include Fukumi's original "Moon In Paris" – plus nice takes on "The Windmills Of Your Mind", "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Devil May Care", "Once Upon A Summertime", "Sunny", "I Will Wait For You", "Yesterday When I Was Young", and "This Girl's In Love With You". (HQ – Hi Quality CD pressing!)  ~ Dusty Groove

01. Devil May Care

02. Once Upon A Summertime

03. The Windmills Of Your Mind

04. Moon In Paris

05. I Will Wait For You

06. Sunny

07. Yesterday When I Was Young

08. This Girl's In Love With You

09. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

10. This Masquerade

11. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Eric Alexander Trio - Just One of Those Things (VENUS RECORDS 2016)

Eric Alexander and his tenor sax join together with Dezron Douglas on bass and Neal Smith on drums to complile a nine-track SACD full of jazz's favorite staples from John Coltrane, Cole Porter and many more!

1. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 《 C.Porter 》

2. Just One Of Those Things 《 C.Porter 》

3. Wise One 《 J.Coltrane 》

4. Beautiful Love 《 V.Young 》

5. You Say You Care 《 J.Styne, L.Robin 》

6. We've Only Just Begun 《 P.Williams 》

7. Stardust 《 H.Carmichael 》

8. Russian Lullaby 《 I.Berlin 》

9. Bessie's Blues 《 J.Coltrane 》

Eric Alexander - tenor sax

Dezron Douglas - bass

Neal Smith - drums

Fernando Marco - Tarrega en Jazz (feat. Eric Alexander) BLAU RECORDS (2017)

El guitarrista FERNANDO MARCO arregla 6 temas del compositor y virtuoso de las seis cuerdas FRANCISCO TÁRREGA (1.852 – 1.909), y entrega una composición propia como homenaje , “Recordando a Tárrega”, en la que cita (¿cómo evitarlo y porqué? ) el tema indiscutiblemente más reconocido y reproducido del autor, el tono que por rocambolescas peripecias usa la telefónica Nokia como indentificativo de llamadas.

“TARREGA EN JAZZ” es un cosmopolita acontecimiento para un ajustadísimo cuarteto : Fernando Marco a la guitarra, Ricardo Belda al piano, LLuis LLario al bajo y Diego Clanchet a la batería, con un invitado de excepción en la grabación de este disco: el saxofonista Eric Alexander, que se incorpora con generosidad en tres de los temas ( “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”, “Lágrima” y la propia composición de Marco).

Con gran versatilidad de recursos por parte del arreglista, respetuoso pero juguetón, y la complicidad de sus músicos, Tárrega se nos aparece contemporáneo y actual en sus melodías, tocado de aires latinos en ocasiones, nostálgico y evocador siempre.

Poner en pie a Tárrega en el País del Jazz y mostrarlo como un audaz compositor de melodías sutilísimas, bellamente rearmonizadas por Marco, es una empresa que exigía gusto y temple, de los que va sobrado, y en la que ha sabido hacerse entender por sus músicos que comparten el levantinismo mediterráneo del viejo prócer, virtuoso que recorrió las salas de concierto del mundo con su guitarra de maderas nobles; ahora la electricidad suave y la pulsación rítmica, el beat que mantiene el tono de “Tarrega en Jazz”, dan un giro inesperado a la apreciación más conservadora del clásico. Crítica de BOB BEBOP.

01. Recuerdos de la Alhambra

02. Adelita

03. Lágrima

04. Recordando a Tarrega

05. Estudio en Em

06.  Pavana

07. Capricho Arabe

Fernando Marco guitarra

Ricardo Belda piano

Luís Llario contrabajo

Diego Clanchet batería

featuring Eric Alexander saxo

Bernd Reiter Quintet (feat. Eric Alexander) - Workout (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2016)

Award winning Austrian drummer Bernd Reiter has already, in spite of his young age, played with jazz’s luminaries like Charles Davis, Kirk Lightsey, Mundell Lowe, Steve Grossman, to mention a few.

Reiter formed the quintet presented here in 2015 to perform a tribute program of Hank Mobley’s music featuring American tenorsax Eric Alexander whom he started to work with in 2012.

The band’s extensive European tour produced this live album from the last two concerts from the Bird’s Eye in Basil, Switzerland.

One of the reviews of the live performances simply put it “Jazz at its best!”.

ERIC ALEXANDER tenor saxophone

HELMUT KAGERER guitar

OLIVIER HUTMAN piano

VIKTOR NYBERG bass

BERND REITER drums

Recorded Live at Bird’s Eye, Basel February 27, 2015.

1 WORKOUT (Hank Mobley) 9:01

2 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (John Lennon & Paul McCartney) 10:35

3 GETTIN’ AND JETTIN’ (Hank Mobley) 11:53

4 ALL THE WAY (Jimmy Van Heusen) 8:36

5 UH HUH (Hank Mobley) 12:00

6 SUPER JET (Tadd Dameron) 9:40

Total Playing Time 61:50

Mike LeDonne Groover Quartet - That Feelin'' (2016) SAVANT RECORDS

Mike LeDonne's splendid Groover Quartet has earned a cozy groove for itself, somewhere between fresh from the oven and the halcyon days of organ combos led by Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Jimmy McGriff, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Shirley Scott, Don Patterson and others. While embracing their essential groundwork on the one hand, LeDonne moves steadily forward with the other, lending a more contemporary voice to what has been a popular staple of the jazz repertoire for well over half a century.

Far from alone in this pursuit, LeDonne is aided and abetted by a trio of eloquent trend-setters: long-time colleagues Eric Alexander on tenor sax, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth. They are enhanced along the way by another modernist, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, who adds warmth and color to "I'd Never Change a Thing About You," bassist Ray Brown's piquant "Gravy Blues" and LeDonne's fast-paced salute to alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, "Sweet Papa Lou." Speaking of "I'd Never Change a Thing," the first of LeDonne's three original compositions, the charming wire-to-wire gallop was written for his daughter, Mary, who has multiple disabilities and for whom LeDonne founded the non-profit Disability Pride NYC. Read more  Jack Bowers / aaj

01. I'd Never Change A Thing About You (7:21)

02. That Feelin' (7:34)

03. La La Means I Love You (7:52)

04. Fly Little Bird Fly (4:26)

05. Gravy Blues (6:20)

06. Sweet Papa Lou (6:13)

07. At Last (5:09)

08. This Will Be An Everlasting Love (6:52)

09. A Lot Of Livin' To Do (7:48)

Mike LeDonne: Hammond B3 organ

Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone

Vincent Herring: alto saxophone (1, 5)

Peter Bernstein: guitar

Joe Farnsworth: drums

Eric Alexander - Second Impression (2016) HIGHNOTE RECORDS

It can be argued with some validity that one's overall movement through life is reflected in his creative endeavor, and Eric Alexander's strength and versatility on the saxophone can be viewed from this perspective. At this point in his career, Eric has certainly covered a lot of territory, both literally and figuratively. 

He himself has lost count of how many albums feature his playing; our guess is 100 or more. While he has garnered critical acclaim from every corner, what has mattered most has been to establish his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition which is exactly what he does on his latest HighNote release. The close-knit ensemble of a band of regular buddies, coupled with the bass-clef contributions of the extraordinary Bob Cranshaw, make for a listening experience not soon forgotten.

01. Second Impression

02. So Many Stars

03. Blues for Mo

04. Jennie's Dance

05. Secret Love

06. T-Bone Steak

07. Frenzy

08. Everything Happens to Me

09. Full House

Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone

Bob Cranshaw, bass

Harold Mabern, piano, Fender Rhodes

Joe Farnsworth, drums

Federico Bonifazi - You'll See (feat. Eric Alexander, John Webber & Jimmy Cobb) 2016 SteepleChase Productions ApS

SteepleChase Productions ApS

SCCD 33125 Federico Bonifazi “You’ll See” feat. Eric Alexander, John Webber & Jimmy Cobb

Pianist/composer Federico Bonifazi is considered one of the most outstanding talents of younger generation of Italy. After studying music in Paris and Turin Bonifazi embarked on professional career as a jazz musician in Europe. His trip to NYC in 2014 enabled him to establish a network of friends in New York jazz scene.

Bonifazi returned to NYC the following year with host of compositions of his own to record this SteepleChase Lookout debut album with New York’s leading artists including Eric Alexander and the legendary drummer Jimmy Cobbs.

FEDERICO BONIFAZI piano

ERIC ALEXANDER tenor saxophone

JOHN WEBBER bass

JIMMY COBB drums

Recorded March 17, 2015

1 STEPS HOUSE 4:31

2 VEDRAI VEDRAI 6:11

3 IL BALLO DI COCCINELLA 4:57

4 SADNESS FOR YOU 4:46

5 WHAT IS LOVE 6:33

6 SUSPENDED IN THE AIR 6:32

7 THE CHICKEN 6:06

8 ESCAPE 6:02

Total Playing Time 45:39

Vedrai Vedrai composed by Luigi Tenco

All other compositions by Federico Bonifazi

EAN/UPC 716043312528

Federico Bonifazi Website

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