Very much worth your time this often pretty moving and poignant album from Belgian guitarist Julien Tassin whose sound lands somewhere between Bill Frisell and Ry Cooder. In the trumpet spot is US player Jason Palmer who took the place of Ron Miles who had passed away and to whom a tune here is dedicated. Palmer is excellent, often mournful and expressive, and responds well to the gently insistent beat of bass guitarist Nicolas Thys. Recorded live last year at a number of venues in Belgium there's no grandstanding at all and the less-is-more concepts make for a good listening experience. Tassin's tunes are succinct but say a lot more than you might at first blush think. A word too finally for drummer Dré Pallemaerts whose deft touch does so much to anchor the tunes. Julien Tassin, photo: Lucinde Wahlen
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