In late 2019, pianist Romain Collin and harmonica player Gregoire Maret began a new project, Americana. The pair would team up with a series of guitarists, including Ben Monder, Marvin Sewell, and Nir Felder (at The Jazz Gallery in January 2020), culminating in a studio album with guitarist Bill Frisell.

Americana was nominated for a GRAMMY, and now the pair has released a followup—a tribute to the film composer Ennio Morricone. Soon after meeting, Maret and Collin discovered that they both grew up watching Spaghetti Westerns with their families, with Morricone’s larger-than-life scores capturing their respective imaginations. When Morricone died in July 2020 at 91, Maret and Collin began planning their homage in earnest.

Ennio features a wide-ranging cast of collaborators, including drummer Marcus Gilmore, guitarist Marvin Sewell, flautist Alex Sopp, and vocalists Cassandra Wilson and Gregory Porter. “We wanted as many sounds and colours as we could possibly get, because this is such a part of Ennio Morricone’s music,” says Maret about the lineup. Check out the band’s take on the iconic theme “The Ecstasy of Gold” from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

This Thursday, Collin & Maret return to the Gallery to celebrate the release of the album in a stripped-down duo format.

Gregoire Maret (piano) & Romain Collin (harmonica) play The Jazz Gallery on Thursday, June 13, 2024. $35 general admission ($20 for members), $45 reserved cabaret seating ($30 for members), $20 livestream access ($5 for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.