The origin of the collaboration which led to the birth of Mare Nostrum and which today allows us to celebrate its 20th anniversary, dates back to a jam session in Japan, during which Jan Lundgren and Richard Galliano discovered an immediate artistic affinity. Subsequently, the bond with Paolo Fresu developed naturally, thanks also to pre-existing collaborations in their respective musical projects. From that casual meeting, a trio was born that, despite the cultural and personal differences of its members, managed to create a cohesive and unmistakable musical universe.
Mare Nostrum: a project in continuous growth
Mare Nostrum it is not a crystallized reality, a concert, a show written once and now always repeated in the same way: as its creators grow, mature, change, cultivate new interests and musical suggestions every day, so too the project is in continuous evolution. If the trio's recording debut, in 2007, marked the beginning of a musical journey characterized by intense and emotion-rich melodies, the second chapter, Sea of Ours II, released in 2016, consolidated the group's success with original songs and ballads imbued with rare beauty. In 2019, the third album, released for the German label ACT, further enriched this extraordinary collaboration, bringing it to international recognition. Today, Mare Nostrum represents a rare example of an artistic project that escapes marketing logic to focus exclusively on creativity and authenticity and that is renewed every evening on stage, thanks to personal interpretations that leave room for improvisation and the moods that gradually follow one another in the experiential moments of the sight of each of the three musicians: the combination of these three unique features gives life to an absolutely innovative project.
A project that is heterogeneous by nature and melting pot to the roots, considering the different musical and more generally cultural backgrounds of the three artists. Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren explore a vast repertoire that ranges from the French chanson of Charles Trenet to traditional Swedish songs, passing through the tango of Astor Piazzolla, the Italian baroque of Monteverdi and original compositions. This sound mosaic, the result of a deep respect for their respective cultural traditions, creates a musical experience that celebrates the openness and contamination between different genres, with a result so varied that it cannot be replicated in any other context. Also because, by its nature, jazz is perhaps the genre most skilled at blending different styles and sensibilities, evolving while keeping alive its innovative spirit, which has characterized it since its origins.
But why Mare Nostrum, such a particular and – if we want – cultured project, becomes so enjoyable? What makes everything “simple”, immediately lovable, is the perfect symbiosis between the three musicians. Paolo Fresu’s trumpet, Richard Galliano’s accordion and Jan Lundgren’s piano intertwine in a dialogue that transcends instrumental differences, creating a unique and fascinating sound.
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