Steve Wyzard NOIRISH UNDERCURRENTS

Released in 2005, this album probably came as a surprise to many long-time listeners of Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava. Not only is there no bass player, but also no cornet, no flugelhorn, no trombones, no saxophones, and no guitars. Just trumpet, piano, and drums. Naturally, this provides for a very intimate and personal recording, and no doubt some will complain it's too slow and doesn't swing. Without being too derivative, Tati is reminiscent of the darker, after-hours tones and textures of ECM labelmate Tomasz Stanko.

Rava's glistening tone and time-honored style are heard to their best advantage on "The Man I Love" and "Golden Eyes". Those expecting innocuous background music are directed to the piercing and shrill tones of the impressionistic title track. The clouds part for the three best songs on the album, "Mirrors", "Jessica Too", and "Cornettology". All Rava originals, they feature faster tempi, fiery trumpet outbursts, excellent piano accompaniment from Stefano Bollani, and intense pounding from legendary drummer Paul Motian. Other tracks are simple dirges ("Birdsong", "Gang of 5") or improv pieces ("Fantasm", "Overboard").

The black-and-white booklet photos from the sessions help add to the late-night, noirish atmosphere. Bollani shines throughout, while Motian adds shimmering brush and cymbal work behind the horn lines. This has unobtrusively become one of my favorite Enrico Rava albums, and he deserves credit for simultaneously wandering off the beaten track while remaining true to his own individual style. At 54:47, Tati does not outstay its welcome and remains a frontrunner in all "Best Jazz Album of 2005" lists.