Last we heard from Benjamin Moussay was on Louis Sclavis masterpiece Characters on a Wall. He seizes the day on this very beautiful album. Born in 1973 he studied classical piano at the Strasbourg Conservatoire and later jazz, composition and musical arrangement at the Paris Conservatoire. His sideman work includes appearances with Louis Sclavis, Archie Shepp and others. Moussay has also accompanied one of the biggest global jazz singer stars, Youn Sun Nah. This new solo piano album has a real candour to it, the melodies sparkle and yet there is depth beyond the attractive themes. The performances floats in its own space, captioning this in one style or another makes little sense, how 'jazz' or not it is really depends on how strict a definition you set yourself. Personally I don't really see Promontoire as an obvious jazz album although there are definite flavours that circulate ('Théa' at the end is perhaps closest). The best tracks for me are opener '127', 'Villefranque' and in the reward-laden tentativeness of 'Sotto Voce' but this is an album that holds the attention throughout. Out now on ECM.