Rava on the Dance FloorECM ***

Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava is normally to be heard playing his own spacious, quietly restrained compositions, but a chance encounter with the music of Michael Jackson shortly after the King of Pop’s death turned Rava’s head completely and, as he relates in his accompanying note, he decided that he had to “delve more deeply into Michael’s world”. Too deeply, perhaps, as, despite the promise of the title, Rava eschews the hits and opts instead for a set of lesser known Jackson songs. (Only Thriller will be familiar to most listeners.) These he plays to the raucous, rarely danceable accompaniment of Parco della Musica Jazz Lab, an anarchic young ensemble arranged by trombonist Mauro Ottolini. Rava hits the occasional high note, and the ensemble has a certain boisterous charm, but few will be heading for the dancefloor with this curiously unsatisfying live recording. A case, perhaps, of moonwalking past the money. enricorava.com