After having released seven recordings for the Italian EGEA label in settings ranging from solo to trio, when pianist Enrico Pieranunzi was asked what he'd like to do next, he immediately replied, “a CD with piano, sax, bass and—a string quartet.” Given the green light, Pieranunzi put together a series of pieces that seamlessly combine the rich culture of the string quartet with the improvisational verve of a jazz chamber trio. The result, Les Amants , successfully marries these two traditions in a way that is respectful to both, balancing them perfectly in a combination that is dramatic without being melodramatic, sweet without being syrupy, and completely accessible without losing a certain sense of exploration.