It’s easy to hear why Bill Evans interpreted many of the songs of composer Earl Zindars, most notably, “How My Heart Sings”. Italian pianist Luciano Troja digs deep into the Zindars songbook and displaying even deeper patience and romanticism than his inspiration on this solo album that mixes songs from Zindars’ pen as well as his own. The twelve tunes are equally divided between a 2018 concert in Berkeley, CA, USA and “live” studio work from 2019 in Palermo Sicily, although the concept of sound is quite seamless.
Troja handles the Zindars material with the meticulous care of Geppetto carving out his Pinocchio, creating a tender cadence on “Lullaby For Helene”, softly waltzing like waves of grass during “Sareen Jurer/Hokees Orrant Ee Var” and creating a reflective portrait on the silhouette of “Elsa”. The is a Debussyesque impressionism for the reflective “Thoughts of Mine” and the delicate “Karen’s Mode” that display a mature patience in the touch of the ivories. Likewise, the gentle ambulation of “ Wissahickon Walk” and the parlored “Roses For Annig” have a serene calmness that is palpable.
Troja’s four part “To New Life” imbibes deeply from Zindars’ waters, with contemplative quietude resonant on “Wait”, droplets of ivory on the window pain during “ Rain” and cirrus clouds of harmonies for “Silenced World”. Troja gives a rich tribute not only to the composer Zindars, but to Evans in the wake as well as the concept of piano romance for those with ears to hear.