MARGHERITA FAVA

MURRINA

Independent Label

Margherita Fava, piano/composer; Jonathan Barber, drums; Brandon Rose, electric/upright bass; GUESTS: Bob Reynolds, tenor saxophone; Jeff Babko & Tabor Gable, synthesizers.

This is a trio that is packed with energy and features the brilliance of pianist Margherita Fava, an Italian artist born in the small village of Follina in northeast Italy.  Her parents inspired the little girl musically.  Both are baroque specialists. Her father is a violinist and her mother a cellist and vocalist.  Fava started studying piano at age 10. At seventeen, jazz piqued her interest and she enrolled in a summer jazz program in nearby Venice.

“In one day, I learned by ear the Miles Davis solo on ‘So What’ from his ‘kind of Blue’ record.  It changed my life.  It was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me,” Margherita shared in her press package.

On track #1, “No Clue” she introduces her original song and composer skills.  But it is the second track, “Keep On” that features Bob Reynolds on tenor saxophone that really grabs my complete attention.  It’s the drummer that is so stellar during this arrangement.  I immediately want to know who that is!  It’s Jonathan Barber on drums.  All I can say is, “Wow!”

Ms. Fava includes the work of Johannes Brahms on this project and covers the Duke Ellington standard tune, “Satin Doll” (that is completely reimagined in a wonderful way), and she covers Memphis pianist, James Williams’s tune “Alter Ego.”

“I wanted to pay homage to Roy Hargrove’s recording of this song in the first half of my arrangement by using a style of accompaniment similar to Gerald Clayton’s on the Roy Hargrove song, Starmaker,” Margherita explains her arrangement of the Williams tune.

The remainder of the music Fava has composed herself.  Her title tune, “Murrina” opens with the rich bass sound of Brandon Rose.  This is a wonderful composition and gives opportunity for her bassist to improvise wildly on the theme. On piano, Margherita does the same.  She has a light, measured touch on the 88-keys. This song reminds me a little bit of the Cedar Walton composer style.

“Murrine is a name for glass-made microcosmos that are stunning by themselves, but become even more beautiful when they come together in a jewel … like songs in an album, like instruments in a band, like humans in a community,” Margherita Fava describes her album title.

A song she calls “Foreshadow” is one of the first songs that Fava ever wrote.  This is one of my favorites on her album, along with her unusual and creative arrangement of “Satin Doll.”  Here is a young, blossoming, talented composer and pianist. I look forward to hearing more from Margherita Fava.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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