Pianist and bandleader Raf Ferrari wrote a thesis on the music of Keith Jarrett at the University of Bologna, bassist Guerino Rondolone lectures at the Eschilo Music Association in Rome, drummer Claudio Sbrolli lectures in the Jazz Music Department at the Lizard Academy of Music in Fiesole, and Vito Stano studied baroque cello with Maestro Gaetano Nasillo. They are a learned lot then, the members of the Raf Ferrari Quartet, and the structure of this set – a concept album consisting of two suites – has a slightly academic feel. Which is not to say that it’s lacking in organic life or is without quirk-appeal: the very presence of a cellist front and centre-ish of the quartet immediately sets it apart from most of the competition. The first suite is four longer compositions separated by short, sorbet solos by each member of the group; the second suite is dedicated to ‘The Seasons’. A keen sense of melody gives shape throughout, while keen group dynamics give edge to the arrangements.