Pianist, composer-arranger bandleader Andy Emler is one of Frances's most lauded jazz musicians and anything he does is priority listening for anyone interested in the state of progressive European jazz today. The ''megaoctet'' does not sound like a big band apart from maybe the frantic 'Minicrobe 2' where reeds and brass fight it out in quite a power struggle as they do on 'Just a Beginning'. It's remarkable how much an ensemble album this is, break out solos are kept to a minimum: everyone serves the greater whole powered by drummer Eric Echampard. Star French-Vietnamese guitarist Nguyên Lê delivers some signature touches but regardless it's not an album where the pyrotechnics count as much as the ingenious arrangements that Emler has created. These delight in beefy bass ostinatos, thumping tuba detonations and a cinematic cop show like-swagger when the reedists run rife and the energetic ensemble ransacks the place.

MORE READING:

• The Useful Report (2022)