Margherita Fava - Murrina (2025)

The hum of modern jazz is strong from the first notes of Murrina. Margherita Fava emerges as a creative force at the piano with her crystalline single notes and cascade of piano chords that shimmer with the microcosms of the modern jazz piano tradition. Recorded in the autumn of 2025, the album captures a trio that performs as one organism, each instrument sculpting space with deliberate intent. Produced by Fava, the session benefits from the keen ears of engineer Eric Sills, whose subtle capture of ambient nuances adds depth to every performance. From the opening "NoClue" to the lingering echo of "AlterEgo," the record unfolds as a cohesive narrative of modern jazz exploration.

Emerging three years after the critically-praised debut Tatatu, Murrina situates itself at a crossroads of tradition and innovation within Fava's discography. The pianist's lineage, rooted in Baroque mastery and shaped by a formative encounter with Miles Davis's "So What," resonates throughout the set. Studies with Xavier Davis and Eric Reed inform the foundation of her harmonic palette. Echoes of the lyrical sensibility of Cedar Walton inform the compositional thrust of "Foreshadow," anchoring the album firmly in jazz's evolving continuum.

The trio's interaction is based on listening as much as playing. Jonathan Barber's drumming provides sculptural accents that ripple through the title track "Murrina," shaping the groove with textured cymbal colors and interactive snare articulations. Brandon Rose's bass, alternating between upright warmth and electric clarity, anchors the harmonic framework while delivering lyrical solos. Across the record, Fava's piano playing balances harmonic extension with rhythmic precision.

Fava's arranging skills shine in the reverent yet freshly colored rendition of Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll." A Latin-inflected A-section segues into a swinging bridge, allowing her to stretch harmonic boundaries while preserving the melody's integrity. Her adaptation of Brahms's "Intermezzo, Op. 117, No. 1" transforms a childhood lullaby into a cross-genre trio performance, the piano's agile phrasing dancing atop a subtle rhythmic reshaping. Original pieces, such as "Keep On" (featuring Bob Reynolds) and "Yarn," demonstrate her skill in building narratives through motivic development, each theme expanding organically into richer harmonic territories.

"No Clue" uses rhythm and harmony to establish a sense of intrigue with the trio's interplay creating an interlocking motion. "Keep On" gains the energy of Reynolds's tenor sax, his warm, conversational lines weaving through the trio's underpinning with propulsion. The namesake track "Murrina" develops into a hypnotic groove where layered voicings and unexpected cadential turns propel the composition forward. Fava's soloing is expressive and motivic. "Alter Ego," with its electric bass and synth textures, boldly expands the sonic palette.

Murrina continues Fava's catalog as a composer-pianist who translates today's jazz narrative into a universally resonant language. The album's strengths lie in its cohesive trio chemistry, inventive arrangements, and the pianist's deft balance of tradition and forward-looking expression. The record offers a richly-textured listening experience that rewards repeated immersion, marking a confident step forward in Fava's artistic trajectory.~By Geannine Reid