This is the eighth album of
Enten Eller, and it was recorded nearly 20 years after
Massimo Barbiero founded the group in 1984, a remarkable lifespan for jazz. This one does not include guests, although
Achille Succi is a good replacement for the American alto saxophonist
Tim Berne, who performed effectively on earlier albums with the group. There is no new ground broken here, with the emphasis still on the serious writing mostly of
Barbiero, though, of course, the large improvisational element is critical. The group draws from a multitude of influences. You can hear
George Russell's hand from the early '60s in "Alcide's mood," for example, with its slightly discordant melody played by the trombone and trumpet, or the influence of
Carla Bley in
Giovanni Maier's clever harmonies on "Marca lenta," with its weird muted trumpet and hardcore electric guitar. Elsewhere, you might hear the ethereal qualities of
Bill Frisell, or wildly freestyle blowing, or even simple straight-ahead hard bop. The mix is sometimes somewhat disconcerting, as there is sense of smorgasbord. As with earlier recordings, the underlying essence of the band keeps the listener off guard: is it the rock-infused beats of
Maurizio Brunod, or the stylized writing of
Barbiero, or the top-flight solos from trombonist
Lauro Rossi, trumpeter
Alberto Mandarini, and the remainder of the band? All of these contribute, and while the guitar and drums keep the group grounded, the horns, in particular, veer outside, resulting at times in some extraordinary results.
Rossi shows that he's been listening to
Roswell Rudd, and the Italian takes advantage, often with mutes, of the considerable opportunity to solo. Throughout the album there are special moments, continuing a two-decade old tradition of high-level musicianship that often defies categorization.