Fernando Ferrarone: Beautifully Different

It is one thing to be a multi-instrumentalist; it is quite another to play two or more instruments so remarkably well that heads start to turn and listeners ask, "Who was that?" Florida-based Fernando Ferrarone is in the latter class. He plays electrifying alto saxophone on the first and last tracks of Beautifully Different, impeccable trumpet on everything in between.

And Ferrarone does so while leading a quintet that consists of American pianist Russell Kranes and three sidemen from Argentina, all of whom were introduced to him by Kranes during Ferrarone's visit to Buenos Aires several years ago. The three are guitarist Tomas Fraga, bassist Diego Rodriguez and drummer Matias Crouzeilles, and while no comparisons are readily accessible, the likelihood is high that they must be among Argentina's leading jazz artists.

As no composer credits are given, a further assumption must be that the quintet is performing Ferrarone's original compositions. If so, that is another feather in his cap, as every one of them is an harmonic and rhythmic pleasure to hear. This is especially true of the flag-wavers that open and close the album: "Solar Eclipse" and "Billy Bob." Which is not to suggest that any of the others is less than admirable, or that Ferrarone's alto sax overshadows his trumpet, only that " Solar Eclipse" and "Billy Bob" are the brightest in a series of musical highlights.

Impressive as Ferrarone is, on either instrument, Kranes and the others have a lot to do with that, whether comping or soloing. Kranes is a remarkably adept improviser, always ready with a fresh turn of phrase that makes his every solo rewarding. Fraga, Rodriguez and Crouzeilles have their moments too, and never fail to deliver the goods. It helps that they have high-quality charts on which to blow, from the light-hearted "My Dilemma" to the well-named "Tommy's Shuffle," gorgeous "Beautifully Different," melodious "Back to It" (the only number wherein reverb seems play a small part) and congenial "Never Forget."

While Ferrarone traveled well south of the U.S. border to contact and recruit most of his teammates, their commitment and expertise made the trip more than worthwhile. Together, they have produced an album that is Beautifully Different in a number of ways, almost all of them thoroughly charming and pleasurable.