This live album breaks with Enrico Rava's own traditions. In his ECM albums, back to 1974's The Pilgrim And The Stars, Rava has set his own compositions in the foreground. Not this time. On Rava on the Dance Floor the great Italian trumpeter enthusiastically turns his attention to the musical universe of Michael Jackson. And in this unexpected context, drawing also upon the energy of the Parco della Musica Jazz Lab band, he delivers impassioned trumpet playing, vaulting above the spirited arrangements by Mauro Ottolini.

Rava paid scant attention to Michael Jackson during the singer's life, and it wasn't until June 2009 and the days after Jackson's death that Enrico, curiosity piqued by the intense media coverage, began to listen to his music in earnest, finding himself more and more attracted by its range of possibilities. "What finally convinced me," he says, "was the contagious riff of 'Smooth Criminal'. The fact is that, from a certain moment on, Michael Jackson simply invaded my life. My wife and I bought all the Jackson discs and videos we could find. And my long and dull road trips were transformed into enthusiastic listening sessions. It became clear to me that for years I had ignored one of the great protagonists of 20th century music and dance. A total artist, a perfectionist, a genius."

Challenging conventional pop wisdom, Rava considers the later Jackson albums to be the better ones, with "History" and "Invincible" as particular favourites. He praises the call-and-response of "Stranger In Moscow" and the melody of "Speechless", considers "Little Susie" a masterpiece, and endorses also Jackson's affection for the Charlie Chaplin tune "Smile." Michael Jackson's protean pop songs have never been heard quite like this.

The PMJL Parco della Musica Jazz Lab is an ensemble produced by the Foundation Musica per Roma with a focus on young jazz talents. Its projects to date have all been directed by Enrico Rava, and the line-up here includes pianist Giovanni Guidi from Enrico's regular quintet (as heard on the recent Tribe album).

Personnel: Enrico Rava (trumpet), Andrea Tofanelli, Claudio Corvini (trumpet, flugelhorn), Mauro Ottolini (trombone, tuba), Daniele Tittarelli (alto saxophone, flute), Dan Kinzelman (tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet), Franz Bazzani (keyboard), Giovanni Guidi (piano, Fender Rhodes, toy piano), Dario Deidda (bass), Marcello Giannini (electric guitar), Zeno de Rossi (drums), Ernesto Lopez Maturell (percussion)