Gaetano Liguori - Ronin (2000)

An unusual recording that works much of the time, Ronin brings together three of Italy's leading modern jazz improvisers (multi-saxophonist Carlo Actis Dato, french hornist Martin Mayes, and trumpeter Guido Mazzon) and a solid rhythm section (Ligori on piano, Luca Garlaschelli on bass, and Tony Boselli on drums). The tracks vary, with the musicians weaving in and out. One of the most interesting effects is the way Ligori adds tapes of Sengalese drums, Pakistani flutes (from Thailand), and Turkish horns to individual tracks and then has players improvise along. There are very strong efforts throughout, but Mazzon, in particular, continues to impress as one of the most underrated of the world's post-bop/avant-garde trumpeters, in the lineage of Don Cherry and Lester Bowie. An extended solo by Mayes is a rare glimpse at the improvisational skills of this outstanding performer.