Another noir sound track from ECM great for a rainy day or a dark mood, although I wouldn't suggest it for the prone to depression. Better something more lively, like Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Still, musically the guys on this rate with anybody in the Messengers pantheon, from Clifford Brown to Terence Blanchard, not to mention Wynton Marsalis, and Jackie McLean to Javon Jackson, not to mention Branford Marsalis. I mention trumpeters and saxophonists, because Enrico Rava (it's his date) and Mark Turner are the front line here. I always dig Enrico, but I bought this primarily to hear Turner, a tenor who doesn't get enough attention beyond the realm of New York clubs, it seems to me. He's every bit of Joshua Redman, who has a higher profile and a lot more CDs to his credit as the leader.
The interplay between Turner and Rava is like listening to an aural puzzle being put together. The pieces fit and make a nice picture. The solos and the seamless ensemble working wrapped around them on Outsider and Certi Angoli Segreti are typical. Not much fire (Thank You, Come Again is about as warm as it gets), but it's like having ice water douse you on a hot day. Sends a chill or three down your spine. Stefano Bollani on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass and Paul Motian on drums stick mostly to the background but are important pieces of the puzzle nonetheless.
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