Enrico Rava: The Words And The Days

The noted Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava is back on ECM, where time likes to stand still in the studio, and his sturdy, burnished lyricism is on full display. But in tandem with his terrific young trombonist of recent years, Gianluca Petrella (whose Blue Note debut was one of last year's best albums), the 67-year-old Rava sets off his dreamy reflections with looser, freer, rhythmically active pieces animated by both modern screech tones and genial borrowings from early jazz. Songs such as Rava's "Echoes of Duke," a jibbing and jabbing updating of Duke Ellington's "Echoes of Harlem," are so lively, you may find yourself wishing the whole album were like that. But there's no denying the rewards of more muted material like Rava's labyrinthine "Secrets." His excellent, all-Italian working quintet includes a new pianist in Andrea Pozza, whose clean, flowing style neatly ties up the songs, as well as returnees Rosario Bonaccorso on bass and Roberto Gatto on drums. –Lloyd Sachs

Tracklist:

The Words And The Days
Secrets
The Wind
Echoes Of Duke
Tutù
Sogni proibiti
Todamor
Serpent
Art Deco
Traps
Bob The Cat
Dr. Ra And Mr. Va

Enrico Rava trumpet
Gianluca Petrella trombone
Andrea Pozza piano
Rosario Bonaccorso double-bass
Roberto Gatto drums