On the newest CD release X-ray by the Italian trombonist Gianluca Petrella, one hears strong reverberation of the avant-garde sounds of Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, and Sun Ra. Although associations such as these may be a kiss of death for this recording to listeners not attenuated to these artists, rest assured that X-ray is quite accessible to the tastes of listeners who may ordinarily choose not to stray far from the path of straight ahead jazz.
The performances by Petrella and the three other members of his quartet exemplify many of the same types of familiar musical approaches associated with avant-garde jazz: An emphasis on alternating or simultaneously juxtaposed rhythmic, melodic or tumbrel textures, sudden changing moods, and novel and unique sounds drawn from the musicians’ instruments or the musicians themselves. The listener may also find similarities in Petrella’s approach to the trombone as found in the work of trombonist Steve Turre, a devotee of another avant-garde jazz musician Rashaan Roland Kirk.
There are no established jazz standards on this recording. All eleven compositions that comprise the better than forty-six minutes of music on the CD are originals by Petrella, saxophonist Javier Girotto, and bassist Paul Rogers. The pieces range from a very boppish sounding opening on the tune Broken Head, through the other-world sounding piece Araucanos composed by saxophonist Girotto, and featuring Girotto on soprano saxophone and the quena, a notched open holed flute of Andean origin. In between are nine other sonically captivating musical excursions that exploit various music possibilities within the framework of the relatively limited resources of only four instruments.
X-ray certainly provides evidence of potentially promising work of a new, relatively unknown artist on the horizon. The musicianship displayed by Petrella and his sidemen is of a very high artistic caliber, and the compositions demonstrate creative and innovative ideas. Petrella’s recording certainly would make an excellent addition to anyone’s jazz CD collection, and serve as a foundation for what may follow from this new artist.
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