Colours

In his liner notes, Davide Ielimni describes these tracks as "...absurdly enough, an album of solos that seem to regenerate through continuous, uninterrupted research." Perhaps, but what distinguishes this album, in addition to the compact, honed solos, is the finely crafted background provided by pianist/leader Nico Morelli, who lays the groundwork for Mauro Negri's impressive work on clarinet. The only recognizable tune is Monk's "Hackensack"; the others are originals by Negri or Morelli that are less memorable though generally good vehicles for the long improvisations in which the two engage. Negri is a reserved, though not timid, performer, especially when compared to other cutting-edge contemporary clarinetists such as Louis Sclavis or Perry Robinson; Negri's strengths are not tied to advanced technique but to a soulful, logical expression that marks his solos as finely sculpted expressions of individual emotion. He rarely startles, but his tasteful, disciplined constructs are imbued with a certain loveliness. Even on an up-tempo piece such as "Ovunque Comunque," his solo embraces a hard bop aesthetic rather than the freedom of the avant-garde. In this sense, Morelli is a good partner, as he, too, incorporates a restrained freedom consistent with "old-fashioned" concepts such as melody and beauty. The results are never startling, but they can be challenging and are almost always worth exploring.