Neo-bop is alive and kicking in Italy. That's the message of a sparkling quintet co-starring trumpeter Boltro and the estimable Rosario Giuliani, the alto-sax virtuoso heard in London occasionally with Guy Barker's European all-stars. Without being especially original, Boltro is a worthy player whose chopsy solos are crammed with notes in the best Freddie Hubbard tradition. Substitute Cannonball Adderley for role model and one could say the same of Guiliani, a fast and fluent operator with several albums under his own name. The five originals Boltro contributes to the session project the brash, optimistic ambience reminiscent of early groups led by Art Blakey or Horace Silver. One short ballad, ‘Over The Rainbow’, is his only trumpet feature, and two soul-jazz staples, Silver's ‘The Preacher’ and Lee Morgan's ‘The Sidewinder’, round off his date. Pianist Lussu comps and solos brightly while drummer Ceccarelli and US bassist Darryl Hall complete a crisp rhythm section. Finally a word of praise for whoever invited vocalist Alex Ligertwood to the studio. Though no Kurt Elling, his hip interjections on three tracks do supply an extra feelgood factor.