CD Reviews for "Little Black Bird"Bold Canadian drummer Ernesto Cervini exemplifies "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" Cervini's quick-witted commentary, almost comical percussive flurries and unpredictable bomb-drops are allied to a liquid ride-cymbal beat... Cervini has a clever compositional style that finds perfect expression in the warm, roving lines of saxophonist Joel Frahm, Cervini's well chosen foil. A woodpecker worthy solo of taps, dribbles and rolls opens the title track, Cervini turning drums into a rainforest symphony, soon accompanied by his group's excellent interplay. 4 stars Wit and wisdom are doled out in equal measure throughout many of drummer Ernesto Cervini's compositions...his music always comes across as smart, with an occasional tongue-in-cheek element at play. On Little Black Bird, Cervini serves up eight of his own delectable musical dishes...and these pieces highlight his talent with the pen, his skill behind the kit, and the remarkable versatility of saxophonist Joel Frahm. Cervini's mid-track solo is a brilliant display of his mastery... The quartet finds the right balance of seduction and paranoid intensity...and it's easy to get sucked into its sound and ever-deepening groove. With talent this big and music this magical, the only thing "little" about this album is the title. Clean, bouyant playing...effervescent swing...sharp composer and bandleader. Ernesto Cervini has produced a gem of a record. The music on "Little Black Bird" reveals the promise of a sophisticated intellect that is serious and funny, inventive, childlike and mature at once. The main attraction is the absolute purity of song and the fluid structure of each of the originals. All of Cervini's music has a striking architecture and yet has the elastic spontaneity that makes this music ever evolving and inviting. Together these musicians bring something special to this memorable record. Drummer Ernesto Cervini plays with such conviction and fire that it's easy to give him your ears and time. Crisp cymbal work, punchy toms and impeccably timed snare shots power his limber quartet. "Jimmy Rey" features fluid interaction between Cervini and pianist Adrean Farrugia, their back-and-forth gestures beathtakingly quick. The knotty "Seven Claps" is a showstopper with everybody really digging it in. Little Black Bird bears repeated listening. It's quite enthralling when the band is playing flat out, with Cervini and bassist Jon Maharaj providing lots of forward momentum and Frahm or pianist Adrean Farrugia or both unfurling fiery, uninhibited improvisations. "Little Black Bird" features Frahm playing without any restrictions. He's in full flight, and the same can be said of Cervini, Maharaj and Farrugia. "Coconut Bill" is a blues fashioned from a sinewy melody and plenty of syncopation. It's all splash and swing once Frahm starts soloing, and he's a master of long, lithe lines. Farrugia...approach(es) harmony in particular from interesting angles. Cervini...gets to indulge in some happy bashing. There's no shortage of energetic, swinging music on "Little Black Bird." A consummate percussionist, adding a creative spark to any ensemble he plays in "Little Black Bird" playfully mix(es) uptempo post-bop with pop-inspired themes. Joel Frahm - he's a fluid, individualistic soloist with a gritty tone... "Little Black Bird" demonstrates the high level of musicality possessed by this excellent drummer...a very musical drummer. The material on the album is original, creative and played with authority One of the highlights is "Nonna Rosa", a haunting ballad played with a sensitivity and restraint that show a high level of maturity. "Cononut Bill" shows that this group can really swing It's kind of harder To write smug, smart-ass haiku When the disc is great A talent worth watching. The disc sizzles from first song to last. CD Reviews for "Here"(Cervini) establish(es) a firm bedrock for the others to glide over. As with most drummer-led dates, there are plenty of trapset expositions... Drummers will want to keep an ear out for the upcoming Ernesto Cervini. A driving and dramatic modern mainstream affair... Cervini’s expanded session comes with a veritable palette of ideas, from slow and sultry ballads to fast and excited romps...Cervini is a complete musician... Both piano and drums stir the pot intuitively with a cohesive attack that echoes the energy that they wish to convey. They push and pull enthusiastically while synchronizing their rhythmic zeal with crisp authority. Drummer Cervini and his quartet bring traditional values and fresh, new compositional and arranging ideas to the modern mainstream. Prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist, Ernesto Cervini has written and arranged all of the material on this exceptional debut CD. (Here is) is a symbiotic musical landscape that purposefully features each talented member of the quartet. Cervini – who shines on the drums – is a composer of profound complexity and emotion. “Here” is certainly one of the most interesting jazz recordings of 2007, and Cervini is one of our most intriguing emerging young artists. Full of energy, Ernesto Cervini pushes the entire band with razor-sharp cymbal work and light but incisive drums. His energy is electrifying, but he does not overpower the proceedings, managing to be extremely tight without being loud. "Here" is a wonderful debut that showcases Cervini's monster chops and compositional abilities. (Cervini's) solos expand the melody and rhythm, and his passion and tasteful restraint should ensure a bright future. Cervini is propulsively active, creating textural and rhythmic tension at will, yet he dons a calm, subtly sophisticated hat for the album's three ballads. ProfilesA profile in advance of MEM3's performance in Saskatoon, SK The music is easy to like, unrushed, not too showy. You can hear (Cervini's) brushes a lot on the album - not a lot of attention-seeking behaviour. Percussion fans won't want to miss the West Coast debut of the Ernesto Cervini Quartet, featuring the explosive drumming of Ernesto Cervini. Cervini prizes the bond that allows the quartet to create honest, inspired music. An interview on Jazz Fm discussing the new album, "Little Black Bird" 27-year-old jazz phenom Ernesto Cervini definitely does drumming well - but he's also decided to break the mould and bring his percussive craft front and centre, becoming a band leader in the process. While he's long been touted as an insanely gifted pianist and clarinetist, Cervini the drummer has succeeded in bringing his cool, steady hand to jazz percussion without sacrificing the musical conversations necessary to jazz songwriting. A feature article about me in the University of Toronto (Hart House) Music Magazine, called Demo. Read the article here. March 2007 Edition of All About Jazz's "Listen Up!" Section. Read the article here. Live Performance Reviews...a tasty drummer, not only handy with the sticks but also excellent brush work. Many of the compositions for the evening were by Ernesto, and they were all well structured...it was obvious that Ernesto has a sense of direction, and you could feel it. Ernesto Cervini, a former Torontonian currently living in New York was guest drummer. Tara and Ernesto played together in high school, twelve years ago. She says "He was eleven but looked about seven. He took off with the drum solo in "Sing, Sing, Sing" and the buzz started. Look what that little boy can do! " Now, people are saying what that drummer can do. Keep an ear out for all of these players. And it was indeed another great evening of jazz, perhaps rivaling that first concert. The evening began appropriately enough with the Phil Nimmons Massey Hall All Stars, featuring a young drummer who looked like he could have been wearing his high school uniform, Ernesto Cervini, who played marvelously. His drums were featured up front... Making a riotous finale, Cervini picked up a set of drumsticks and duetted with drummer Nick Shao and the band in an explosive performance of 'Sing, Sing, Sing.' If there had been room on the theatre floor, for sure everyone would have been jiving and jitterbugging Joanna Manning - Port Colbourne Tribune
Entire Article Other articles of interest2-part article in the June 21st, 2007 edition of the Toronto Star (Travel Section) about New York Jazz clubs. Read the articles here and here. Toronto Star - What's On section. February 22nd, 2007. Read the article here. IAJE Canada (Fall '99) Bulletin Downloadable press filesA high-resolution photo of Ernesto Cervini A high-resolution photo of the Ernesto Cervini Quartet |