• Track Listing

Introducing Letizia Gambi is the title of the debut record of artist Letizia Gambi, a project conceived and developed with one of the most acclaimed musicians, jazz drummer, producer, multi Grammy Award winner: Lenny White. As one of the founding fathers of the musical movement that became known as "Fusion", he had played on two of the most important Jazz records ever made, Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew" and Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay. " He earned a world-wide reputation as the drummer in the mid-'70s super group Return to Forever together with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke with whom he just toured the world winning two more Grammy's for playing and producing the record "Forever". His versatility attracted interest of many of the finest jazz musicians leading to collaborations with Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Santana, Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Gato Barbieri, Wayne Shorter, Al Di Meola, Marcus Miller, Michel Petrucciani (just to mention a few). He also has been involved with different genres artists like Santana, Bill Withers, Chaka Khan, Nancy Wilson and rappers LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane. White scored soundracks (Spike Lee's "School Daze" & Reginald Hudlin's "House Party" together with Marcus Miller), composed orchestral music and he's still working on his first Opera. Lenny White was so won over by the talent and the project dveloped by the neapolitan singer, that after eighteen months of hard work between Milan, Rome and New York they created "Introducing Letizia Gambi" on the Jando Music label. "Introducing Letizia Gambi" is the synthesis of two apparently distant worlds and yet able to blend them in perfect harmony, creating an authentic sound that combines the Black-American heritage with Mediterranean melodies. It is a "Cultural fusion". Lenny and Letizia arranged in an international and personal way some of the most popular songs of the Italian and Neapolitan repertoire, international covers, and composed original tunes of great musical impact. The refined sensibility of the Italian singer, together with the exceptional experience of the American artist, merged to give birth to a 21st Century Musical Approach, as the two artists like to define it. The Album is sung in English, Italian, Neapolitan and Spanish and there are a few composition written by Lenny and Letizia together. This idea sparked the interest of some legendary musicians who accepted the challenge. Ron Carter, Chick Corea, Wallace Roney, Patrice Rushen, Gil Goldstein and Gato Barbieri, with their extraordinary performances have significantly contributed to the success of the project. The mediterranean passion speaks through the Jazz language. The artistry and sensibility of these great musicians directed by visionary Lenny White who has a movie-director approach in producing records has giving us a gem. "Introducing Letizia Gambi" is held together by a common unique style. From "Appocundria", a cover of the famous Italian Pino Daniele, enhanced by the piano performance of Chick Corea, to "The question of U", their cover of a Prince tune, with a solo of extraordinary beauty by Gato Barbieri. The famous "Tu s 'na cosa grande" by Domenico Modugno becomes "You are so special" the first ever English version recorded and approved by the great composer's wife; a wondeful ballad featuring the great Wallace Roney. The album was recorded in NY and NJ, the only song recorded in Italy is "Secret Tears" an interpretation of the old Italian aria "Una Furtiva Lagrima" by Gaetano Donizetti from the Opera "L'elisir d'amore" where Letizia put new English lyrics recorded with some of the best musicians on the Italian scene. Antonio Farao', Dario Rosciglione and Max Ionata. "Letizia Gambi is a stunning vocalist!" - Sting"... It was soooo nice to play with/for a singer that can really sing. " - Ron Carter"Lenny White and Letizia Gambi have created the hippest musical address in Naples; at the intersection of Neapolitan music and jazz. " - Gil Goldstein"Letizia is a new artist with an old soul. I'm always looking for new artists who have knowledge and respect of tradition but free spirited enough not to look at me crazy when I ask them to change it. Letizia Found me. She's really a human dynamo and the best student I ever had. Ladies and Gentlemen : Introducing Letizia Gambi!" - Lenny White"Introducing Letizia Gambi is one of those dramatic arrivals that challenges categories and assumptions. It's a longer way of saying simply that this album is indeed a rare thing - one that deserves to be heard and considered according to it's own merits. " - Ashley Khan