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"Four Stars ... a warmly expressive encounter between a close-knit trio and two guests they’d never previously met ... the frequently genre-hopping Bollani freely revels in his straight-ahead jazz. The beboppish No Pope No Party is like a Monk tune played by a cool school band ... Bollani’s vivacious soloing provides many of the highlights, never more so than in the quicksilver title track." - The Guardian "Four Stars ... like a kind of musical contortionist, Stefano Bollani keeps repositioning himself with eye-popping ease ... Bollani juggles the musicians in duo, trio, quartet and quintet formations. Perhaps the album's most engaging tracks, however, are when all hands are on deck ... Bollani's playing has rarely sounded more pared back and essential as it does on this album ... Bollani's optimism and his perpetually uplifting music are potent reminders that there's also much to celebrate in this life." - All About Jazz With Joy In Spite Of Everything, an album of original compositions for a trans-Atlantic quintet, Italian pianist Stefano Bollani has made his most beautifully textured and infectiously lyrical statement yet. He recorded these nine pieces at New York City’s Avatar Studios with the Danish rhythm section from his Stone in the Water trio: bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund, plus two prominent American players and ECM intimates: guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Mark Turner. As its title reflects, Joy In Spite Of Everything brims with an indefatigable lightness of spirit despite the inevitable shadows of life.