Of course, if you’ve not heard of Mr. Conte before you’re in for a real jazz treat. This album was recorded in Bari during various session from Autumn 2005 to Winter 2007 with the top Italian jazz musicians and some serious guests including Greg Osby (he of the M-Base sax of 90s 3-D Lifestyles and Blue Note), the next big thing in José James, Teppo ‘Teddy Rok’ Mäkynen and Timo Lassy (both of various Finnish jazz projects including the mighty Five Corners Quintet).
Of course James is a regular on the Brownswood Bubblers compilations (see One and Three) and had one of the albums of the year in 2008 with Dreamer. The tracks he appears on here, ‘The Nubian Queens’, ‘Like Leaves In The Wind’ and ‘Awakenings’ are very Gilles Peterson/Schema jazz room friendly; particularly the first two as pacey groovers. James is often mentioned in the same breath as legend Mark Murphy and you can see why on these performances. By coincidence, Till Brönner (who was on Mark Murphy’s Love is What Stays album of a couple of years ago) turns up on ‘Like Leaves In The Wind’ (great ‘bone by Gianluca Petrella) but it’s ‘The Nubian Queens’ that stands out with Lassy’s solos.

But Nicola Conte knows his jazz, whether it be on his Viagem compilation on Far Out or Freedom Jazz Book’s on Schema. He’s written or co-written all the tracks here except two (more of which later) and it’s all outstanding.

The album starts with a modal-like ‘Karma Flower’ with lead vocals by Chiara Civello but it’s Diane Peters who steels it for me with her heavenly harp. The Civello/Peters combination team up again on the soft samba of ‘Paper Clouds’ and again more Peters on the title track and the magnificent, ‘Black Is The Graceful Veil’ (that also features Osby and the vibraphone of Michael Pinto who doubles as the bongo player on the album). Kim Sanders is the vocalist on that one (and the laid back, ‘Red Sun’) and yet another, Alice Ricciardi takes the lead vocals on ‘Songs Of The Seasons’ with more vibes and Osby sax; more in a uplifting in a ‘New York Afternoon’ style than the Dorothy Ashbyesque ‘Graceful Veil’.

Now prepare yourself for the two cover versions. Dusko Gojkovich was a member of the Clarke-Boland Big Band on trumpet/flugelhorn (RIP Freddie Hubbard) and he wrote ‘Macedonia’. The core band of Conte (guitar), Bosso (trumpet), Scannapiecco (tenor), Lussu (piano), Ciancagini (bass) and Tucci (drums) give it the full contolled jazz-race for seven minutes. Even more impressive, the classic Ellington/Tizol ‘Caravan’ has been a tune for over 50 years and is so special; anything less than a superb version is not good enough. This is big with vocals by a new name to me, Philipp Weiss who provides an air of mystery to it; Brönner and Bosso battle out the solos. For a track that we’ve all heard a million times, this is incredible taking it to new heights.

The album ends with some relief after that with the title track ‘Ritual’ - the only ritual you need to know it to make sure you get everything Nicola Conte releases. His is the don of modern jazz and Rituals proves it.

Forthcoming Gigs:
22 Jan 2009 - FBI Club, Cagliari
24 Jan 2009 - Porgy & Bess, Vienna
28 Jan 2009 - Fabrik, Hamburg
29 Jan 2009 - Euro Connections @ Palac Akropolis, Prague
07 Feb 2009 - Centro de Arte, Burgos
13 Feb 2009 - Het Depot Leuven
19 Mar 2009 - Club JB’s Nagoya
20 Mar 2009 - Club Ikspiari, Tokyo
21 Mar 2009 - Cafe Tree, Tsuruga
22 Mar 2009 - TBA, Tokyo
04 Apr 2009 - Kulttuuritalo Helsinki

Reviewed: Nicola Conte - Rituals (EmArcy) Cat. No. 0602517652873 Release date: 26th January 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Karma Flower (4:03)
2 The Nubian Queens (6:20)
3 Like Leaves In The Wind (4:50)
4 Love In (4:52)
5 Awakenings (5:51)
6 Paper Clouds (4:08)
7 I See All Shades Of You (5:51)
8 Macedonia (7:06)
9 Songs Of The Seasons (3:33)
10 Red Sun (4:43)
11 Black Is The Graceful Veil (5:00)
12 Caravan (5:38)
13 Rituals (7:35)

Links:
www.nicolaconte.it
www.myspace.com/nicolacontetheofficialspace
www.fabriziobosso.com
www.emarcy.com
www.youtube.com/user/EmarcyRecords