Enrico Rava - Rava String Band (1984)

This release ranges from moments of reflective, ambient serenity to periods with more intense activity, although there's seldom any real instrumental ardor or passion exhibited. Trumpeter Enrico Rava's glorious tone and Nana Vasconcelos' percussive dexterity on berimbau and gongs are the closest anyone gets to displaying some fire, but all the participants are expert musicians and nicely demonstrate their proficiency. This finely crafted mood music seems more up ECM's alley than Soul Note's, but Rava and company showed that they could play the same game to perfection. © Ron Wynn