Your Songs: The Music of Elton John

Pietro Tonolo has certainly been working with jazz for a long time. He began to play professionally in 1979, leaving classical violin behind for the saxophone. Since that time, he's worked with many artists and produced a long list of albums.

While listening to his latest album, which is nine tracks of Elton John adaptations, it's apparent that Tonolo has been playing music for a long time. His performances on the tracks seem flawless but not forced. Even though the saxophone parts often stand out, they blend well with the other instruments. The solos are not completely "solos" because it doesn't seem like the saxophone is stealing the spotlight.

The album has some variation in tempo, which is a nice touch. Track five is unhurried and mysterious; it almost sounds like something you'd hear in a black-and-white detective movie. In contrast, track four is much quicker and has a completely different feel to it.

Tonolo's album is great, but I wouldn't rank it as one of the best jazz albums I've heard. The concept, though, is definitely interesting and creative.