The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu

Paolo Fresu, an Italian trumpet player with a pure and lovely tone, joins Carla Bley and her group on this 2007 release. Bley is one of jazz’s finest composers and arrangers, and the album’s centerpiece, “The Banana Quintet,” is yet another example of her excellent work. Appropriately enough, the piece opens by placing the guest center stage: the first notes we hear are Fresu playing brass tones that are both clean and emotive. When the band joins in, it’s clear that they — Bley on piano, saxophonist Andy Sheppard, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Billy Drummond — and Fresu sound great together. “The Banana Quintet” features bluesy grooves, noir whimsy, bittersweet horns, and a nice Beatles quote, but the highlight is the beautiful section called “Five Banana.” Drummond and Swallow lay down a great groove as Fresu and Sheppard take thoughtful solos and Bley’s piano weaves everything together. “Death of Superman/Dream Sequence #1 – Flying” displays the band’s gift for restraint and nuance. Drummond’s touch is feather-light, Bley’s piano is spare, Swallow’s guitar-like bass solo whispers, and Fresu’s muted trumpet and Sheppard’s sax play off each other with exquisite delicacy. The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu is one of those understated albums that sneaks up on you and becomes a favorite.