The choice of a tune from Miles’s “Kind of Blue” as the sole cover version here says something about the aesthetic priorities of both musicians. These are also players who understand the power of silence and melodic clarity.

Fresu’s trumpet playing, moreover, with his clear vibratoless sound has often been compared with that of Miles Davis. (Indeed it is an association he has encouraged – not least by recording his rearranged version of “Porgy &Bess” for RCA)

Since graduating from the Cagliari Conservatory in 1984 Fresu has played on well over 300 albums with a wide cast of musicians. His discs as a leader have received many awards, as has Fresu himself – including the French “Django d’Or” as Best European Musician in 1996.

Towner first encountered Fresu fifteen years ago, at a festival in Sardinia where the guitarist had been commissioned to write music for an ensemble. Paolo was the trumpet player. “I’d never heard of him before, but from the first phrase he played I thought: wow, this guy really understands melodies! And I decided right there that we would have to work together at some future point.” The piece played that day, “Punta Giara”, is revisited on “Chiaroscuro”.

The idea of working with trumpet is one that had long appealed to Towner: Ralph himself played trumpet in teenage years. “I was confident it would work because as well as soloing, I can cover all the ‘accompaniment’ parts myself.” Towner’s approach to the guitar has always been quasi-orchestral. As a player with a very strong compositional sense he can imply a lot with a few notes.

In choosing material for “Chiaroscuro” Towner went back through his archive and selected “Wistful Thinking”, a piece originally recorded on the album “Open Letter” with Peter Erskine. From the songbook of Oregon he added “Zephyr”, previously recorded for ECM on “Ecotopia”. Other material is written especially for the session and/or improvised. “Sacred Place” and “Doubled Up” are the first recordings to feature Ralph’s new baritone guitar, tuned a fifth below standard guitar tuning. The instrument, reaching down for the deep notes, wonderfully balances Fresu’s flugelhorn. Elsewhere Ralph’s classical guitar sings in its unique way.

The disc ends with improvisations – “Two Miniatures” and ”Postlude” - on which Fresu’s horns are set off against Towner’s 12 string guitar. Perfect moments, like a flaring of fireworks.

“Chiaroscuro” is Ralph Towner’s 22nd album as a leader for ECM, in a discography with well over 30 titles. Alongside the landmark recordings like “Diary”, “Solstice” and “Batik”, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic.