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While I can't claim to be any sort of an expert on Italian music, I must say that this is a fantastic cd. Being a fan of old movies, there are quite a few times while listening to this cd that all I can picture in my head is Sophia Loren circa 1958 strolling along a beach. Yeah it's THAT good.
Aside from Puccini, Cipolla, Eddie Lang, and the Godfather music, I wasn't really familiar with any of this music or its composers but now I wonder why this music has seemingly been forgotten. It's really gorgeous music and I am extremely grateful to David Grisman for "introducing" me not only to these Italian styles, but also to the two specific Italian musicians on this cd, Carlo Aonzo (mandolin) and Beppe Gambetta (14-string harp-guitar). The harp-guitar is usually in a supporting role here so it's never the lead instrument but it has wondeful, rich tone. I was suprised at times that it is a wooden guitar because it has a low-end more reminiscent of a National.
Carlo is the leader here, from playing to arranging. He is "the mandolin find" of the year for me this year, a truly great player. I initially had my doubts as to whether these guys would sound good next to Grisman but it turns out that they steal the show. Carlo also plays one of the single best moments of the cd when he takes a turn on mandocello for track #4 (Manzanillo).
Acoustic Disc has released many great cd's over the last decade and this is one of the best. The only other "ethnic" cd Grisman has released that can compare to this one is the masterpiece, Songs Of Our Fathers, but this one has better, richer sound than does that one.
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Like this duo's ECM release "In cerca di cibo", this disc has a wonderful old world feel.The combination of trovesi's clarinets and Coscia's accordian suite Weil's compostions well.Beatuiful playing and recording quality.Highly recommended.
Savina Yannatou has an indescribable soprano voice which captures the sounds and emotions of the Meditarranean people whether Italian, Greek, French (Corsica), Hebrew or Turkish (I may have missed a country or two present on the CD). The wedding song from the Greek island of Kalymnos and the Turkish "aman" song are my favorites. All the songs are so beautifully sung, it is hard to say that one is better than another ... I have heard these two songs before and am familiar with how they should sound: her singing is traditonal with a tenderness and sincerity that is a uniquely her own. Savina's voice is ethereal and "other worldly" - totally living up to her name, after a saint from the Meditarranean, Italy, I think. 
A rare glimpse into the dying world of the Calabrian mafia, this CD is endlessly fascinating to those of us who grew up in Sicilian or Southern Italian households and heard stories similar to those in the songs of honor, revenge and sacrifice. Of course knowing the dialect will help any listener appreciate the full meaning of the lyrics, but even those unfamiliar with those terms that appear in almost every song, such as'sango' for blood or 'onore' for honor, can appreciate the wonderful contrast between the harshness of the lyrics and the melody of the songs. The counterpoint and complexity contained in these songs reflect the complex societies from which they come, raw, real and emotionally honest.
Nice guitar/mandolin music. Personally I the 'mouth harp' was distracting. CD time 23 minutes.
This particular "Greatest Hits" has mostly English lyrics, and a different song selection from the Polydor Italian version. I have both versions.This one is a lovely compilation of some of his best songs sung in English.I have been listening to Zucchero for a couple of years now and still have not tired of his sound.If you have never heard him, this is a perfect CD to start out with, since it showcases his songs being sung in English and therefore does not put a language barrier (in my case) between the music and the words. But, I also love all of his Italian versions and buy both when ever available. As a 'starter' CD this one is perfect.
With his warm, romantic voice, Nicola di Bari succeeds in bringing to mind nostalgic memories. It is possible to listen, and re-listen to this cd for many times and enjoy every minute of it. These are beautiful melodies that relax a person.