[1] In 1967, Rava moved to New York City and, one month later, became a member of the group Gas Mask, which had one album released on Tonsil Records in 1970.

With trumpeter Paolo Fresu, Rava recorded four albums on the influence of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Miles Davis.

In 2001, he founded a quintet with pianist Stefano Bollani and toured with Gato Barbieri and Aldo Romano.

[3] In 2023, Rava assembled a band of young Italian jazz musicians called The Fearless Five, consisting of Matteo Paggi on trombone, Francesco Ponticelli on double bass, drummer and singer Evita Polidoro, and guitarist Francesco Diodati, and began touring the major European jazz festivals.

In July 2024, he released the album Fearless Five with this new band, featuring new versions of some of his most famous songs such as "Lavori Casalinghi" and "The Trial".