Paolo Fresu/Richard Galliano/Jan Lundgren
Mare Nostrum
Act
By George W. Harris

Here’s a release that is what ECM SHOULD sound like: spacious, relaxed, romantic, yet with a blithe sense of joyful swing. European all stars Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn), Galliano (accordion, bandoneon) and Lundgren (piano) coalesce their talents to create a warm and breathing mixture of bohemian folk and Mediterranean jazz. Fresu, who has made his name recently with Carla Bley and the Lost Chords, is in rapturous form on these 15 spacious and wrenching pieces. Touching such varied sources as from Ravel (“Que reste-t-il de nos amours?”) to Jobim (“Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce”), as well as some ebullient originals, the trio takes on tango, straightahead jazz, folk, and classical with the flick of a wrist. The interplay between Galliano and Lundgren is surprisingly uncluttered, and with Fresu’s golden toned horn, there is an air of reminiscence and nostalgia to the whole experience, almost allowing the listener to underappreciate the sophisticated and intricate playing that is actually occurring during the entire encounter. Don’t let this disc pass you buy. Guaranteed satisfaction.