Unfortunately our understanding of Italian is limited to restaurant menus, but a scan of the track list indicates that the spiritual and jazz standard are this CD's focus. These five European chaps obviously have a fondness for these particularly American forms; 'Climbing Up The Mountain,' 'Summertime,' 'Satin Doll,' and 'Sophisticated Lady' are the mediums for Alti & Bassi's swinging big band style. Vocal orchestrations and scat are vital ingredients, and the group has a great deal of skill and versatility. Their gospel turn on 'I'm Rolling Through This Unfriendly World' is warm and convincing. Occasional piano accompaniment.

'Il Favoloso' is our favorite all-male Italian quartet's singing tribute to legendary American composer George Gershwin. Eight of the 11 covers here are by George, one, a lovely a cappella rendition of 'The Man I Love,' is by George and his brother Ira. One tune, A.E. Negri's 'Charleston Prelude,' and Zapponi-Luttazzi's title tune, complete the songlist, most of which are live and accompanied. Favorites include 'Scandal Walk,' 'Naughty Baby,' 'I Got Rhythm,' Medley, including 'Preludio No. 2,' 'An American in Paris' and 'Rhapsody in Blue,' and the bluesy 'Summertime.' A fun, entertaining collection from Alti & Bassi!

Talented all-male Italian pop/jazz quintet Alti & Bassi's 'Take 5,' whose cover features an open box of chocolates with musical notes on them, is, fittingly, a sampler CD of 5 songs: an amazingly jazzy cover of 'Silent Night,' a wonderfully harmonic version of the classic 'Unchained Melody,' the traditional Spiritual 'Nobody Knows,' a jazzy, surprisingly arranged 'White Christmas' (which segues into the title tune, and 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' from Disney's Cinderella, which segues into a walking jazzy 'Take 5. All these are pure a cappella, which really shows off Alti & Bassi's vocal talents. We like this group's song selection, hip arrangements, energy, spirit, sweet leads and solid background harmonies. Help yourself to a taste of Alti & Bassi, fresh pop/jazz from Italy!

Alti & Bassi are five debonair-looking, fun-and-Western-music-loving Italian men whose 'Medley' is exactly that, a 32-song medley. Or more correctly, a medley comprised of seven medleys, beginning with 8 heavily-accented Disney chestnuts ('Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,' 'Heigh Ho,' Bibbidi Bobbity Bu' and others); a masterful 4-song Platters medley ('My Prayer,' 'Sixteen Tons,' 'Only You' and 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'); a jazzy 'West Side Story' medley ('Maria,' 'Tonight' and an apropos 'America'); an 'I Love America' Broadway medley ('Singin' In The Rain,' 'Cheek To Cheek,' 'Night and Day' and 'New York, New York'); a seven song Beatles medley 'A&B Road' ('Abbey Road,' get it? It includes 'Sgt. Pepper's,' 'If I Fell,' 'Norwegian Wood,' 'Help,' 'All You Need Is Love' and other favorites); a 'Canto Libero' medley of Italian favorites ('Fiori Rosa Fiori Di Pesco,' 'Il Mio Canto Libero' and 'Con Il Nastro Rosa') and finally the 'A&B G's' medley (The Bee Gees of course, '(Saturday) Night Fever,' 'How Deep Is Your Love' and 'Stayin' Alive'). These guys have loved and listened to a lot of records, cassette tapes and CDs to sound as much like these groups as they do. We love all this music, too, and Andrea, Alberto, Paolo, Diego and Filippo have the a cappella chops to do it justice. Listen to the yummy bass lead on 'Sixteen Tons' (which we seem to remember as a Tennessee Ernie Ford hit, rather than the Platters, but no matter), and to the falsetto lead on 'Saturday Night Fever'-these guys may come across as somewhat silly at times (we prefer 'fun-loving') but they can really sing, and they give us a sweet taste of 32 wonderful songs here. Which we think you will enjoy, as we did!

Listen to Bibbidi Bobbidi Bu in RealAudio.

Alti & Bassi are five debonair-looking, fun-and-Western-music-loving Italian men whose 'Medley' is exactly that, a 32-song medley. Or more correctly, a medley comprised of seven medleys, beginning with 8 heavily-accented Disney chestnuts ('Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,' 'Heigh Ho,' Bibbidi Bobbity Bu' and others); a masterful 4-song Platters medley ('My Prayer,' 'Sixteen Tons,' 'Only You' and 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'); a jazzy 'West Side Story' medley ('Maria,' 'Tonight' and an apropos 'America'); an 'I Love America' Broadway medley ('Singin' In The Rain,' 'Cheek To Cheek,' 'Night and Day' and 'New York, New York'); a seven song Beatles medley 'A&B Road' ('Abbey Road,' get it? It includes 'Sgt. Pepper's,' 'If I Fell,' 'Norwegian Wood,' 'Help,' 'All You Need Is Love' and other favorites); a 'Canto Libero' medley of Italian favorites ('Fiori Rosa Fiori Di Pesco,' 'Il Mio Canto Libero' and 'Con Il Nastro Rosa') and finally the 'A&B G's' medley (The Bee Gees of course, '(Saturday) Night Fever,' 'How Deep Is Your Love' and 'Stayin' Alive'). These guys have loved and listened to a lot of records, cassette tapes and CDs to sound as much like these groups as they do. We love all this music, too, and Andrea, Alberto, Paolo, Diego and Filippo have the a cappella chops to do it justice. Listen to the yummy bass lead on 'Sixteen Tons' (which we seem to remember as a Tennessee Ernie Ford hit, rather than the Platters, but no matter), and to the falsetto lead on 'Saturday Night Fever'-these guys may come across as somewhat silly at times (we prefer 'fun-loving') but they can really sing, and they give us a sweet taste of 32 wonderful songs here. Which we think you will enjoy, as we did!

Listen to Bibbidi Bobbidi Bu in RealAudio.