French tenor-saxophonist Alban Darche, whose own playing could be described as post-cool, has a marked penchant for trumpeters. With Eric Vloeimans, Laurent Blondiau and Geoffroy Tamisier in tow one would expect a predominantly brassy, big-band sound. However, Darche is too subtle a composer and arranger to go for the obvious. Despite the octet formation that lends itself to a more orchestral sound, what one often gets is flawless chamber jazz. With another brilliant reed player, Sylvain Rifflet and a highly sophisticated, elastic rhythm section made up of Gábor Gadó on guitar, Sébastien Boisseau on bass and Emmanuel Birault on the drums, “Trumpet Kingdom” paints a broad and varied canvas. The music drifts from moody, Miles Davis-like soliloquies to forays into the realm of almost free improvisation with bits of fun recalling the sounds of European fairgrounds thrown in for good measure, while parts of the album could easily be labelled as contemporary music. Surprises abound but the playing is precise and inspired all the way.

Péter Pallai