"For many years I had the good fortune to work closely with one of the world’s greatest improvising trombonists Paul Rutherford and I have to say in my opinion, in the world of elite trombones, Samuel Blaser ranks up there alongside Paul and Albert Mangelsdorff." George Haslam

"GREAT CD! A big congrats to you for such an accomplishment." Laurence Donohue-Greene, ALLABOUTJAZZ-NEW YORK

These tracks convey a sense of the wide open spaces of Russia (the home of the "black earth" of the title) ... Leonid Vintskevitch's piano tone is beautifully lucid. His delicate touch makes every note count ... Leonid's piano is amazing: playing the piano strings as well as its keys, and creating his own dazzling counterpoint between left and right hands (Music Web International)

3rd June 2007 Aida Severo, the free jazz ensemble led by pianist Philip Somervell,  spent a day in the studios of Trinity College, London – the result was this, their first CD. The music, based on compositions by members of the group, builds free jazz improvisation on a strong harmonic basis in the jazz tradition.

Steve Waterman, trumpet and flugelhorn, playing at his peak – a never ending flow of ideas presented with impeccable tone and style.

Steve Kershaw, double bass, a master of the solid but never obtrusive bass line; always strong on the riffs that feature extensively in this music and totally supportive to the soloists.

Robin Jones, drums, the Latin percussionist who also happens to be a great jazz kit drummer able to get to the rhythmic roots of these arrangements. His relaxed style of working with Kershaw’s bass is beautifully demonstrated on the CD.

Lol Coxhill soprano sax, George Haslam baritone sax, tarogato, Richard Leigh Harris piano, Steve Kershaw double bass.

From the creative impulse of Giovanni Sollima and Alessandro Gandola comes Astrolabioanima, a completely new musical project, an original combination in which composition and improvisation occur simultaneously.
The unusual instrumental combination of Violincello and Soprano Saxophone creates a broad crossover spanning from the two artists’ backgrounds in Baroque music and jazz to include other musical genres such as rock, minimalism and folk music, with no self-imposed limits.
The CD is the official creative documentation that led to the ASTROLABIOANIMA project. It contains the live recording of compositional improvisation, which turned out to be real compositions capable of thrills and surprise, thanks to the strength and freshness of a true creative gesture, documented in the immediacy of becoming.