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Album review

At first impression, post-bop pianist/composer Baptiste Trotignon looks like a newcomer to the jazz scene, though he has recorded a number of CD since the mid-'90s as a leader on the Naive label. He will likely benefit from the wider distribution of his Sunnyside debut, which features Trotignon playing 11 originals with various lineups. A gifted pianist who shows lots of promise, Trotignon's works hold up well to repeated hearings, engaging his rhythm section and telling a story in the process, highlighted by the catchy "Mon Ange," and the wild uptempo blues "Red Light District." Most of the tracks feature the pianist with a trio consisting of bassist Matt Penman and either Eric Harland or Otis Brown II on drums, all of whom provide strong support. Of special interest are the tracks featuring guest Tom Harrell on flugelhorn and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, who work together to flesh out the exotic ballad "Samsara" and the playful bop vehicle "Dexter." Turner's individual feature is the tense post-bop composition "Flow," while Harrell's showcase is "Blue," an intricate, somewhat pastoral duet with Trotignon. This outstanding release by Baptiste Trotignon will likely provoke investigation of his earlier CDs.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo