It’s interesting to find Tingvall trio bassist Omar Rodriguez Calvo in a different playing situation away from the hit German trio, this all-Cuban trio led by passionate piano virtuoso Valle who has a big sometimes grandstanding technique the passion the redeeming factor as his solos take ridiculously daredevil technical leaps.

The material, however, on this studio album recorded in the Netherlands, isn’t massively adventurous. Beginning with Jerome Kern’s ‘All the Things You Are’ versions of Stevie Wonder and Leonard Cohen songs also included as well as a raft of his own material Take Off is comfortably modern-mainstream with a Chick Corea flavour to Valle’s overarching style. And while there’s plenty to admire in terms of musicianship and craft (but the mix has the drums of Ernesto Simpson far too prominent) there is less to be derived in terms of emotional impact and ideas. In the deluxe edition a live concert DVD is also included. SG    

Ramón Valle, above. Photo: ramonvallemusic.com