Saturday, October 25, 2003

Chris Mentens - Drivin' with the Jazz Van (a recommendation)

To atone for the string of non-Belgian jazz-related posts below, here's a strong recommendation for the Chris Mentens album first discussed here. The compositions and arrangements are excellent (vibraphonist Jan Nihoul nails the inside parts beautifully, bringing at once solidity and lightness) and the solos are worthwhile: trumpeter Sam Versweyveld (a name to me) particularly stands out, coming from the bold Lee Morgan school and with a fine architectural sense and melodic flair.