Enrico Rava is a prolific jazz trumpeter and arguably one of the best known Italian jazz musicians. He originally played trombone, changing to the trumpet after hearing Miles Davis. His first commercial work was as a member of Gato Barbieri's Italian quintet in the mid-1960s; in the late 1960s he was a member of Steve Lacy's group.

He has played with artists such as Carla Bley, Jeanne Lee, Paul Motian, Lee Konitz and Roswell Rudd. Chiefly an exponent of bebop jazz, Enrico Rava has also played successfully in avant-garde settings. His style may partly recall Kenny Wheeler's in its spareness and lightness of tone, albeit Rava's is harmonically simpler.

Gianluca Petrella is an Italian jazz trombonist. He is internationally considered one of the best young jazz trombonists. In 2001 he won Italy’s Django d’Or Award as well as Musica Jazz’s annual critics poll as Best Young Talent. In 2006 and 2007 he was featured in Down Beat magazine, winning their award for "Best Emerging Artist" in the category for Best Trombonist.

Wild dance is a cross-generational project by the grand master of Italian Jazz himself, Enrico Rava. Energized by joyous experiences on the road the ever youthful Rava took his new working quartet of the last two years into Arte Suono Studio in Udine.

Here they were joined by trombonist Gianluca Petrella, an internationally noted player through his contributions to Ravas three acclaimed post-millennium quintet albums Tribe (2011), The Words & The Days (2005) and Easy Living (2003). With Manfred Eicher producing, the five Italians recorded a program of Rava originals which cover a broad range of moods from brooding ballad playing to fiery uptempo post-bop.

Once again Ravas playing makes it clear that lightness and intensity, elegant cool and emotional warmth are no opposites. Rava and Petrella form a peerless two-horn frontline, whether playing in unison, engaging in dialogue or taking their turns in extensive soloing. The rhythm section of Gabriele Evangelista, Enrico Morello, ("In my opinion, the number one drummer in Italy today", says Rava) and guitarist Francesco Diodati give them both space and assured support.

www.enricorava.com

www.gianlucapetrella.com