Antonio Figura
David Schroeder & Antonio Figura - Introducing the album Been Here and Gone
“Dave Schroeder and Antonio Figura make music of extraordinary poise and balance, in which they explore the meaning of “song.” First, this music sings, passionately. Melodies abound, and breath rules. These two breathe together; Antonio’s artful use of the pedal pushes the piano to inhale and exhale with Dave’s parlando lines. Second, there is everywhere in this recording a careful consideration of song form - of ways its history, as embodied by an honorable list of practitioners from Puccini to Porter - is filled with stirring, evocative stories. The music on this recording is story-telling music, music replete with the atmosphere of mythic tales spun at night, out of doors. It invites you to recapture the kind of listening you did as a child, when music first grabbed you and transported you to worlds you hadn’t imagined. ”
— Steve Swallow and Carla Bley
This is a remarkable duo collection in two respects. The compositions, all originals written by Figura and Schroeder, have beauty, simplicity and sophistication. This recording also has the distinction of featuring Dr. Dave on several of the more ‘exotic’ wind instruments – sopranino saxophone, piccolo, bass flute, chromatic harmonica and the ever-popular ‘Mongolian ever buree’ (no, I hadn’t heard of it either, but you will love it!) He plays them all beautifully along with Antonio’s lush and flowing piano playing. Bravo!
– Tom Scott
