Paolino Dalla Porta, Kenny Wheeler, Stefano Battaglia, Bill Elgart - Tales (1993)

Tales is a refined and deeply expressive contemporary jazz collaboration bringing together four highly sensitive improvisers: Paolino Dalla Porta, Kenny Wheeler, Stefano Battaglia, and Bill Elgart. Released in 1993 on Soul Note, the album emphasizes lyrical interaction, open forms, and subtle dynamic development rather than traditional head-solo-head structures. Kenny Wheeler’s flugelhorn provides a central melodic voice, characterized by its warm tone and emotional fragility, while Stefano Battaglia’s piano adds harmonic depth and fluid responsiveness. Paolino Dalla Porta’s double bass and Bill Elgart’s drumming create a flexible rhythmic foundation that supports both structure and freedom. The compositions unfold as atmospheric “tales,” with each piece offering a distinct emotional landscape, from introspective ballad-like passages to more abstract, free-flowing explorations. Tracks such as “Night Breath” and “Kandinsky” highlight the group’s ability to blend composition with improvisation in a seamless way. Tales stands as a subtle, poetic, and highly nuanced jazz recording rooted in European contemporary jazz aesthetics.

Tracklist
1. Night Breath
2. Kandinsky
3. Lullaby for Ugo
4. A Place To Sing
5. Il Piccolo Principe
6. Mbria
7. Tenzin
8. Vocal

Personnel
Double Bass – Paolino Dalla Porta
Drums – Bill Elgart
Piano – Stefano Battaglia
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler