Pianist Giovanni Guidi and trombonist Gianluca Petrella, key figures in what some are hailing as a golden age of Italian jazz, found their strong improvisational rapport inside Enrico Ravas band (see for instance the 2010 ECM album Tribe) and, keen to play more, formed the duo Soupstar, giving many concerts in which they are intermittently joined by guests.
For this studio recording, producer Manfred Eicher brought the dynamic duo together with US drummer Gerald Cleaver and French clarinetist Louis Sclavis, for an outgoing set of music which includes lyrical free improvising and tunes composed by Giovanni and Gianluca.
The piece called Gato! tips the hat to Mr Barbieri, and title track Ida Lupino serves double duty as a salute to composer Carla Bley in her 80th year (Petrella once played in a big band under Carlas direction) and as a tribute to Paul Bley, who popularized the tune and influenced so many improvisers (not least Giovanni Guidi).