There are truckloads of Miles Davis tribute albums, but this one is special. Recorded live at the Montreal Jazz Festival on July 5th, 2001, Enrico Rava and his band play a phenomenal set of 5 songs associated with Miles. This is a trumpet and flugelhorn extravaganza with Rava and Paolo Fresu trading solos on both horns, backed by Stefano Bollani on piano, Enzo Pietropaoli on double bass, and Roberto Gatto on drums.
The sense of fun and interplay is evident right from the beginning with a great version of "Bye Bye Blackbird". This song, dating from the 1920s and covered by almost everybody, features a wonderful muted solo by Fresu and also gives Pietropaoli his moment in the spotlight. The heartbreakingly beautiful "There is no you" (from Miles' Blue Moods album) follows. Played as a duet, Bollani lays down bluesy chord clusters for Rava to play over in his best mournful tone. To have the ability to create a solemn atmosphere like this on the concert stage is downright amazing. "Milestones" is this album's biggest surprise, with Rava at his absolute wildest. It would have been easy to play it safe by sticking close to the famous horn line, but everyone strays far from it. Outstanding solos are taken by all. The show continues with Kind of Blue's "Blue in Green", and finishes with "When lights are low" (from Cookin'). While Rava and Fresu obviously dominate the proceedings in a tribute like this, special mention must be given to Stefano Bollani's contribution. Dismissed by some as "too classical", he provides the melodic anchor to the performances and solos brilliantly without egregiously apeing anyone's style. And yes, he can "swing" with the best of them.
The crowd on hand for this show gives the band an ecstatic reception. The great sound of this recording has been excellently captured by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Every note comes through loud and clear, and the listener is made to feel they are right on the stage. - Steve Wyzard
Tracks
1. Bye Bye Blackbird (Ray Henderson)
2. There Is No You (Harold Hopper)
3. Milestones (Miles Davis)
4. Blue In Green (Miles Davis)
5. When Lights Are Low (Johnny Gomez)
ENZO PIETROPAOLI double bass
ROBERTO GATTO drums
STEFANO BOLLANI piano
ENRICO RAVA trumpet, flugelhorn
PAOLO FRESU trumpet, flugelhorn
Recorded live by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during the "Carte Blanche to Enrico Rava" at the Montréal Jazz Festival, Canada, July 5th, 2001
Label Bleu - LBLC 6639