Davide Mantovani
Album: Choices
Label: Equilateral
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.davidemantovani.net/

Choices is the fifth album from bassist Davide Mantovani - and it is an exquisite blend of jazz, world, cinematic music and classical influences. One can only surmise that the reason Davide is not better known in Britain is that this quiet, unassuming musician is happier making good music than promoting himself.

Born in Italy, Davide moved to London in 1991, and has been a stalwart of the jazz and world music scene ever since. His association with Senegalese kora star Seckou Kuti goes back to 2002, and the track 'Choice is Yours' shows that strong West African influence on Davide's writing and playing. It features much gentle interplay between Madou Sidiki Diabate on kora and Guillermo Hill, on guitar. African rhythms evolve into a groove which is, at times, reminiscent of an unplugged Mahavishnu Orchestra! Human …Kind?' has a still more international feel, with Indian-influenced vocals and percussion, and a strong bass line gradually building into an urgent, rolling rhythm.

Elsewhere, constant elements in Davide's writing are latin rhythms (as I write he is touring with fellow latin-jazz aficionado Alex Wilson's trio). 'Atlantico Temporal' has a bossa feel to its vocals, guitar and percussion, but yields to a jazzy piano solo from the sublime Zoe Rahman (a regular associate of Mantovani's) and subdued electric guitar fusion by Hill, with bursts of soprano sax colouration from the ever-tasteful Paul Booth. 'Goodbye Albatross' underpins the vocals (co-writer Alice Bellaschi) with a languid slow-bossa beat, kora and muted horns. Booth excels on 'Plejades' floating his sax over another gentle latin rhythm, with Roger Beaujolais on vibes and a lovely acoustic guitar solo from Hill, whilst the slightly more up-tempo 'Rio Déjà Vu' has a latin-fusion feel and a largely spoken vocal, driven forward by Mantovani's electric base groove. This track gives way to a more straight fusion sound on 'Restless Wrestlers', which breaks midway into a bit of free-interplay between Mantovani, Booth and Rahman - demonstrating the variety of the writing and playing on this album.

Another colour to Mantovani's palate is classical music - a languid cello (Ivan Hussey) intro segues into swinging string trio and percussion on 'Bachorinho' , with its Bach-derived theme. 'Memory Box' is another feature for Hussey's cello and Mantovani's bowed double bass, backed only by piano and string trio; for once Davide allows himself to solo on this gently romantic tune. 'A Cajola D'Oro' is a gently swinging folk-jazz piece featuring fellow Italian Al-Maranca on vocals, and yet more superbly understated soprano sax from Paul Booth.

Finally, Davide closes the album with two very contrasting tracks. 'The Blue Rider' has a Weather Report feel, with more Mantovani bass-grooves and Booth evoking impressions of Wayne Shorter, whilst Hill's solo has shades of a Carlos Santana latin ballad. By contrast 'Esperando Olivia' is a reflective duet between Davide and Hill - a typically low key ending which seems to echo the gentle and refined nature of its composer. Overall, then a delightful CD, which is definitely in my top-ten of 2012.

Martin Price