The Blue Note debut of the High Five Quintet — an Italian combo we’ve really grown to love, and who sound especially nice in this setting! High Five are a more jazz-oriented version of some of the groups you might hear on club jazz labels like Ricky Tick or Schema — a tight combo with a really strong rhythmic sensibility and a great ear for soulful solos — but one who’s equally adept at more gentle moments too. There’s some really great groovers on the set — the kind of upbeat modal numbers we really love — but the mellower tunes are great too, and show a warmly lyrical side of the group, with a depth that recalls 60s genius on Blue Note. Players include Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet and flugelhorn, Daniele Scannapieco on tenor, Luca Mannutza on piano, Pietro Ciancaglini on bass, and Lorenzo Tucci on drums — and titles include “Evan’s Even”, “Pandaguru”, “Cosi Com Sei”, “Ojos De Rojo”, “Estudio Misterioso”, “Nino’s Flowers”, “Naty”, “Inception”, and “Five For Fun.”