At the beginning of the '80s, trumpeter
Paolo Fresu attended the Siena Summer Jazz Seminars and amazed
Enrico Rava with his creativity, talent, and technique. Over the next ten years, he became a major player on the Italian scene, first with his own quintet (which is still going), then branching out in a variety of projects. After finishing his Conservatory studies, he became a teacher at the same Jazz Seminars in Siena; he lives half the year in Paris, from where he coordinates the major Time in Jazz Festival he created in his hometown. His discography numbers an astonishing 130 titles since he's been invited to play all over Europe in a variety of projects, from contemporary music to straight jazz, from dance to jazz/folk fusions.
His style is based on the classic
Miles Davis sound of the '50s, and the very lineup of his quintet is reminiscent of
Davis' group, with excellent tenor
Tino Tracanna. They mostly play originals and the music flows fresh and engaging, never a mere imitation.
Live in Montpellier (1990) and
Ossi di Seppia featuring
Gianluigi Trovesi, both on Splasc(h), are good representations of the different facets of the group;
Shades of Chet is an affectionate tribute with
Rava on Label Bleu (2001) featuring new piano talent
Stefano Bollani. Sonos 'E Memoria (ACT 2001) and
Metamorfosi (BMG 1999) are respectively inspired by Sardinian musical heritage and European classical
Richard Strauss, their success being proof of his commitment to an open musical aesthetic. In addition to
Fresu's quintet, he played in an unusual duo with bassist
Furio di Castri, this became
the PAF trio with the addition of
Antonello Salis on piano and accordion, and another trio with English pianist
John Taylor (Contos, Egea 1995), while his European quartet includes French-Vietnamese guitar player
Nguyên Lê (
Tales From Viêtnam, ACT, 1995).
–
Francesco Martinelli, Rovi