It’s truly amazing: even at 87, Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava is still full of surprises. He has recorded a new album with a quintet that includes tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. It’s called Corners and offers a solid 55 minutes of atmospheric jazz at its finest.

Rava’s Fearless Five consists of himself and the young Italian musicians Matteo Paggi on trombone, Francesco Dodati on guitar, Francesco Ponticelli on double bass, and singer and drummer Evita Polidoro. Joining them is Lovano, with whom Rava has already played on other albums, as well as guitarist Dodati. This creates a mix of familiar faces and newcomers who come together to form a surprisingly organic whole.

The Fearless Five are something of a serendipitous discovery. Rava put the ensemble together on the spur of the moment when he had a gig in Rome four years ago. “ “We had so much fun on stage that evening—even though we hadn’t really rehearsed at all—that I more or less decided on the spot that this was going to be my new band,” the trumpeter recounts.

Now, together with Lovano, the quintet provides a solid 55 minutes of entertainment on Corners. The recording, however, has no rough edges. Even though Rava is always good for free passages, interjections, and open-ended playing—the framework is always defined by musical unity and flow.

Furthermore, the program consists not only of Rava’s original compositions but also includes three of Rava’s compositions, two pieces by Lovano, and one track each from the four other members of the Fearless Five. This ensures stylistic variety and diversity.

The album opens with the over 11-minute Certi Angoli Segreti, penned by Rava. It is an atmospheric jazz recording with plenty of room for improvisation and subtle accompaniment. Lovano’s Tone, Shape and Color, by contrast, has an almost orchestral feel and, with its vocal passages, a cinematic quality. Le Mie Gambe, written by Evita Polidoro—who also sings on it—shines with delicate melancholy. Ça va sans dire by Francesco Ponticelli expands on the album’s calm underlying mood with dramatic arcs and adds a touch of drama.

Corners is a wonderfully cohesive album, even acoustically. The six musicians are perfectly positioned in the center of the soundstage, and the natural sound of their instruments is rendered in a way that’s almost tangible. But that’s to be expected from ECM. The bass has a rich body, the drums a gentle punch, the horns are dignified, and the guitar is warm.

The result is a harmonious whole. A true listening pleasure! (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Enrico Rava, trumpet, flugelhorn
Matteo Paggi, trombone
Francesco Diodati, guitar
Francesco Ponticelli, double bass
Evita Polidoro, drums, vocals
Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone

Recorded in July 21-23, 2025 at Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome
Produced by Manfred Eicher