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ENRICO RAVA QUARTET w/ GIANLUCA PETRELLA - Wild Dance

ECM 473 2228

Enrico Rava ( trumpet); Francesco Diodati (guitar); Gabriele Evangelista (double bass); Enrico Morello(drums) with Gianluca Petrella (trombone)
Recorded January 2015


Rava's latest release for ECM find him in the recording the studio with his regular working quartet, and adding to its ranks trombonist, Gianluca Petrella. Petrella who is no stranger to Enrico's work having  played on three of the trumpeter's recent albums for the imprint, Easy Living (2003), Word & Days (2005) and Tribe in 2011. 

The introduction of the fifth voice is an inspired choice as the relationship is not just between trumpet and trombone, but on a more deeply personal level with Rava and Petrella's individal personalities and approach to their respective instruments. This ease with with they almost telepathically blend and interweave their lines is heard to wonderful effect on the opening 'Diva', a piece that has been in Rava's repertoire for many as year, but on this occasion suggested for inclusion by members of the band.

Another inspired choice for this music is the use of guitar as opposed to piano as the harmony instrument, with Diodati's playing often quiet and quite sparse and freeing up the compositions leaving plenty of space for the horns to weave their melodic lines, or even leave empty creating delicious pauses filled with anticipation.

Of the slower pieces, with the guitarist's almost ambient contributions, the title track works its magic unfurling slowly, almost like one of Ornette Coleman's ballads, and the presence of Ornette also hangs over some of the more uptempo pieces, most evident on the bluesy 'Infant' and 'Cornette' with the frontline dancing across the rhythmic foundation laid down by bass and drums; and also get chance to hear Francesco Diodati cut loose with some of his most dynamic playing of the set. 

Variety is the name of the game in this well programmed release, with the arrogant strut and swagger of 'F.Express' and the bebop tinged 'Happy Shades' bringing extra dynamics and interplay within the band to the fore. With some fiery soloing from all concerned and the excellent rhythmic propulsion from Evangelista and Morello this is another fine release from the veteran trumpeter.

Reviewed by Nick Lea

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ECM celebrates 50 years of music production with the Touchstones series of re-issues