Always ready to celebrate with a day at the circus, an afternoon movie matinee, or a night at the opera, Dutch saxophonist Bo van de Graaf and his I Compani ensemble marked Giuseppe Verdi's 200th birthday with their 2013 program Verdi 2.00, recorded live and then released on CD and digitally early the following year. I Compani previously covered Verdi on 2001's Aida, with tango, circus music, blues, and improvisation tossed into the Italian composer's famous opera -- drawing cheers from fans of Dutch jazz while perhaps generating a few harrumphs from classical music purists. Not atypically, they start the fun this time around with the CD's hexagonal cardboard package, which opens to reveal the disc masquerading as a scrumptious (albeit flattened) Italian torte, presented on a fancy doily. So cut yourself a generous slice and let the party begin. Verdi 2.00 leads off with "Dies Irae" from Requiem, and "Ella Mi Fu Rapita" from Rigoletto appears later (both arranged by Joop van Erven), but the lion's share of the album continues I Compani's fascination with Aida, as van de Graaf arranged the opera's music on seven tracks with two further tracks arranged -- as on the 2001 album -- by former I Compani pianist Jeroen Goldsteen. On "Dies Irae," a soulful I Compani initially tip toward Mingus Ah Um more strongly than Requiem, but the octet (featuring violin, cello, saxophone, trombone, bandoneon, piano, bass, and drums) is soon off and running through Verdi's recognizable themes, moving effortlessly into the classical realm with both passion and finely honed skill.

1		Dies Irae
2		Duetto
3		Bentrovato
4		Ritorna Vincitor
5		Nel Fiero Anelito
6		Numi Piëtá
7		Triomphrasch
8		Amneris Tango
9		Chi Ti Salva
10		Ella Mi Fu Rapita
11		Ballabile
12		Schiavi Mori
13		Padre a Costoro
14		Poco Piú Animato
15		Balbettio