Italian Maestro Enrico Rava's appearance on these shores has been a long time coming. He was originally booked by Adrian Jackson for Wangaratta back in 1996, but visa complications delayed that plan by nearly 20 years!

He is performing in a number of different lineups.  For his Sydney and Melbourne performances the quintet, features Mirko Guerrini, a highly-regarded saxophonist on the Italian jazz scene (and often a colleague of Enrico’s) before he moved to Australia last year, on tenor saxophone ; Paul Grabowsky on piano ; Frank Di Sario on bass ; and Niko Schauble on drums. He is also playing with the Monash Ensemble on the Wangaratta stages.

We got our shortest interview ever with Enrico. Indeed, if you can guess one of the questions you can win a double pass to his Sydney performance on Monday 3rd November.  Just send an email to editor(at)jazz.org.au by close of business on the 1st November.

ER:  Music inspires my music
ER:  I’m going to play mostly my compositions, old and new
ER:  I’m working on my next recording with my new quartet very young italian musicians

Rava is one of Italy’s greatest jazz musician and an outstanding figure on the European jazz scene over the last five decades.  His sound is immediately recognisable, one in which the use of space is crucial, giving maximum impact to each expressive nuance in what he plays. He is a master, known for his fire and lyricism, abandon and control.

First inspired to play trumpet by hearing Miles Davis as an 18-year old, Enrico began to attract attention in the mid 1960s, when he played alongside such notable visitors as Gato Barbieri and Steve Lacy. He then spent several years in New York, working with such artists as Carla Bley, Roswell Rudd, Paul Motian and Lee Konitz.

Since the mid ‘70s, Enrico has remained based in Italy, often playing alongside leading artists from other countries; leading his own bands; and always setting a very high standard for his countrymen to emulate. He has performed alongside Gil Evans, Cecil Taylor, Joe Henderson, John Abercrombie, Ran Blake, Pat Metheny, Martial Solal, Richard Galliano, Dave Douglas, Paolo Fresu……the list could go on. He has released over 50 albums as leader (including the 1975 ECM classic, The Pilgrim And The Stars, and the 1995 set based on Bizet’s opera, Carmen).

Enrico enjoyed a notably fruitful partnership with pianist Stefano Bollani for around a decade from the mid ‘90s. Their recordings include Montreal Diary (Label Bleu 2004) andNew York Days (ECM, 2009). More recently, Enrico has led his Tribe quintet, with some of Italy’s most talented younger-generation musicians. Their ECM album, Tribe, is a highlight in Enrico’s discography.
International recognition of Enrico’s artistry have included being named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2002, and the prestigious JazzPar prize in Copenhagen in 2001.

 “It is Rava’s ravishing lyricism, his pure, burnished tone infused with both warmth and a hint of human vulnerability, that makes this consistently absorbing, musically album so special.” – London Jazz News

“Just because the veteran trumpeter sounds dreamy doesn’t mean he’s not daring. Rava is skilled at conflating those seemingly separate approaches and creates some poetic schisms. A pointed flash of notes might careen from a hazy ballad; a post-bop blazer might pull over for a valuable day dream.” – The Village Voice

Enrico Rava performances in Australia:

30 October, Melbourne, with Monash students – info
Weekend of 1- 2 November Wangaratta Jazz Festival www.wangarattajazz.com
3 November Sydney info

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