TOM RICCI, Happening in Buenos Aires - Live at Borges 1975

For an artist whose musical identity has long been shaped by the intersection of jazz, bossa nova, folk-rock and Latin American traditions, Tom Ricci’s soulfully charming, emotionally intuitive Happening in Buenos Aires – Live at Borges 1975, recorded in Buenos Aires in June 2023, feels less like a concert album than a homecoming.

Recorded with no previous band rehearsal in his native Argentina with pianist Pablo Sanguinetti, bassist Bruno Migotto and drummer Oscar Giunta, the set captures the spontaneity and camaraderie of four musicians shaping the music in real time, moving effortlessly between standards, originals, tango, bolero and even a surprising rock reinterpretation.

Ricci sets the intimate tone with a gentle, conversational reading of Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo,” his soulful vocal floating over elegant piano accompaniment and understated swing. The mood brightens immediately on a carefree, lightly buoyant take on “Night & Day,” while the briskly swinging “Just Friends” offers the first full showcase for the quartet’s improvisational chemistry, highlighted by spirited piano exchanges, a nimble bass feature and energetic drum work. Among the originals, “Simply Love” stands out as a breezy romantic reflection filled with vivid imagery and easy charm, while “Old Old Blues” reveals Ricci’s enduring affinity for rootsier territory, blending wistful storytelling with simmering jazz-rock guitar fire.

The collection’s most poignant moment may well be “Naranjo en Flor,” the beloved Argentine tango rendered with passion and conviction in Spanish, allowing Ricci to reconnect directly with his cultural roots. Elsewhere, he moves gracefully through a dreamy bilingual reading of Jobim’s “Quiet Nights,” an impassioned “Besame Mucho,” and a thoughtful and heartfelt, gently vulnerable interpretation of “What a Wonderful World.” Perhaps the singer’s boldest choice is Radiohead’s “Creep,” transformed into an intimate jazz lament whose sense of longing and outsider reflection fits surprisingly well within the album’s broader emotional landscape.

Closing with the romantic warmth of “My One and Only Love” and the exuberant swing of “There Will Never Be Another You,” Ricci leaves listeners with a vivid portrait of an artist reconnecting with the people, places and musical traditions that helped shape his voice. The result is a warm, engaging live document where personal history, cultural identity and inspired musicianship converge.