This unusual trio led by little-known Italian pianist
Renato Strukelj, with
Kyle Gregory on trumpet, piccolo trumpet, and flügelhorn and
Salvatore Maiore on acoustic bass, squeezes forth strangely beautiful sounds, grounded in
Strukelj's original compositions. You can hear influences as diverse as
Bill Evans and
Paul Bley in the pianist's approach, but the presence of the brass is what helps to distinguish the album.
Gregory is a stylistically conservative player, to be sure, but he sometimes takes chances, as on "Due Passi Sulla Luna," where his soft legato tonguing leads to a lovely serenade, with gentle high notes held for the duration and a finely nuanced attack. On flügelhorn, the warmth of his tone is magnified, producing a lush, rich palette, and on the title piece his flügelhorn trills, jumps intervals, and blows authoritatively. Underneath,
Maiore's bass resonates reliably, filling the cracks and laying the foundation.
Strukelj is most effective as a soloist when playing at a little faster pace, as on "11 Marzo," where he swings energetically and lets loose a bit. His compositions are lyrical with cascading notes, and he generally follows the same approach on piano. He plays firmly on the beat, with what appear to be evenly tempered quarter and eighth notes. While this album is reminiscent of the
Miles Davis collaborations with
Bill Evans and
Gil Evans, it falls somewhat short in its depth of harmonic sophistication and clarity, its compositional acuity, and its creative compass. Nonetheless, as a whole this is a lovely album that focuses on the moment, with some very pretty playing, particularly from
Kyle Gregory.