The Pilgrim And The Stars (1975)

"Enrico Rava's 1975 debut for ECM, is a stellar progressive jazz effort from the Italian trumpeter. Rava had spent his formative years working with such artists as Steve Lacy, Roswell Rudd, and Carla Bley, and obviously took much to heart when approaching his own music. This is cerebral, atmospheric, often groove-oriented music that rests nicely in between late-'60s Miles Davis and "Brown Rice"-era Don Cherry with some obvious nods to the melodic jazz of Chet Baker. To these ends, such tunes as the expansive title track and the reflective "Bella" begin with lyrical melodic statements from Rava and slowly build to more serpentine, post-bop segments that push toward free jazz but never quite go atonal. Buoying Rava is an adroit ensemble of John Abercrombie (g), Palle Danielsson (b), and Jon Christensen (d). A ceaselessy inventive guitarist, Abercrombie's knotty, fractured, sometimes distorted playing is a perfect match for Rava and the two often intertwine their lines." (Matt Collar, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)