Third Man

Recorded in 2006, this duet album by Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava and his younger contemporary pianist Bollani, is both first rate jazz and near perfect mood music. Bollani has been praised for not using superfluous notes in his playing but this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t play a lot of notes –his technique is almost classical and it is formidable!—but that he doesn’t waste what he plays. Everything fits. Whether he is accompanying the trumpeter, folding alt lines around his horn, or soloing on his own, everything he plays is a pleasure to listen to. Rava, too, is a master. Possessed of flexible technique and ravishingly beautiful, often near melancholic sound, he steps inside these mostly moody pieces –the samba “Estate,” a Jobim piece, “Retrato em Branco y Preto” (“Portrait in Black and White”) played twice over, a lovely ballad by Brazilian composer-instrumentalist Moacir Santos, one composition by Bollani and the rest by Rava –everything fits together in this sound suite. Can melancholy not be a sad feeling sometimes? Because that’s what this music is like –sunshine over mood. Two real artists talking to and with each other.

This minimalist, live-in-the-studio recording is a collaboration between two Italian treasures who have played together for over a decade. This mutual familiarity explains the otherworldly intimacy of this recording. Manfred Eicher's recording process and choice of venue only enhance the haunting beauty of this music.Thom Jurek said it best in the All Music Guide: This is a deeply conversational and historically rich sound world so poetically explored by Rava and Bollani. "The Third Man is a brilliant collaboration and a beautifully accessible as well as adventurous offering."

mediterranean and latin songs melt down in lyricism. but it's not a joyful meeting at the first stance; it's modal.then, after listening several times, you can feel the "joy" in some sense. that's the secret behind rava's modality and a perfect duet... it's the joy of discovery, interplay and intensity. (unfortunately, not joy of swinging.)after listening "retrato em branca y preto" composed by jobim and "birth of a butterfly" composed by rava, listening them again as last tracks, you'll notice making variations on the same theme is a joy of music in and for itself...

I love everything Rava and Bollani do and this is an exceptionally good album, go for it! The combination of Rava and Bolliani is wonderful!

Holy Smokes!

I am often criticized for skipping tracks on player to browse ( call it any disorder) and then listen to a nice 'section' of a song and then skip again. But once, i was doing my taxes on my laptop and i just popped this in the CD player, the whole album just was so dreamy and the music was sublime, i just let it play on like an 8 track! It helped me do my taxes without slitting my wrists :)I then listened to it again without giving it the 'background music' tag with serious intent. I found the music to be lush and beautiful. This is a great session between two gifted musicians and i hope to discover more of their work and collaboration.Definitely recommend to check out.

A few years ago Enrico Rava and Stefano Bollani released a duo CD on the Italian label Philology called Rava Plays Rava. It is one of my favorite duo recitals--just a brilliant colloboration among two superb artists, completely in tune with one another. I was hoping for great things from this new ECM CD, but was generally disappointed. It has none of the energy and spark of that earlier meeting. It is further hampered by a cavernous cathedral-like sound that does ECM no credit. A disappointing release. Try to get ahold of Rava Plays Rava if you can---perhaps Cadence still has it in stock.

This is one of those rare instances where the trademark ECM chamber jazz 'sound' seriously detracts from the performance - resulting in a straightjacketed recording which whilst of the highest technical/technique(l) order lacks the chemistry, zest and spontaneity that this remarkable duo conjure up so effortlessly in their live dates. I blame the pair of legs bottom left corner of the cover shot. Listen to another Rava/Bollani CD called 'Rava plays Rava' and realise the difference.

Great interplay between two giants.

Conforme alla descrizione, ottima qualità e prodotto decisamente molto funzionale e ben realizzato. Consegna niente da dire, pieno rispetto dei tempi di consegna.

ラヴァはピアノとのデュオでのバラードが似合いそうなのに意外とそういうアルバムを録音していませんでした。ピエラヌンツィとのデュオ作品もありましたが、ラヴァらしさは希薄でした。この作品はまさにエンリコ・ラヴァの美学が充分に表現された作品だと思います。オススメですところで、サードマンというタイトルについてですがべつに恵比寿ビールのＣＭソングでもある映画の曲を演奏してるわけではありません

Enrico as discovered the scource and built upon the MESSIAH's sound a wonderful album-miss this at your own peril / Mark the real deal...10 stars Ramsey would approve..