Wolfgang Muthspiel - Driftwood (2014)

Sublime guitar trio date recorded in May 2013, led by Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel.  Bookended by tributes to two formative influences, Joseph (Zawinul) and Bossa For Michael Brecker, all the material is Muthspiel's other than the group-composed title track.  It's a highly enjoyable and varied set of eight tracks in a trim 41 minutes, often prioritising texture and ambience.  Dazzling runs of notes share the space with plenty of breathing room, Larry Grenadier undepins it with both rock solid basslines and melancholy bowing, and Brian Blade on drums keeps structure and momentum to this great set of impressionistic pieces.

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Previously posted at SGTG:

Travel Guide (with Ralph Towner & Slava Grigoryan)

Ibrahim Maalouf - Wind (2012)

Wind is the fourth album by French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, and came to my attention when release reviews compared it to Miles Davis' Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud soundtrack.  That cool noirish atmosphere is present and correct, but far from pastiche Maalouf creates a highly original tribute to modal-era Miles.  Most interesting is his use of a quarter-tone trumpet, allowing for the microtonal scales of his Middle Eastern heritage.

Over the hour-long Wind, originally conceived as a soundtrack to the 1927 silent film La Proie Du Vent, there's a good mix of uptempo tracks alongside the expected cool slowburners.  My favourite thing here is one of the latter - Surprises, with its great hook played by German pianist Frank Woeste.  The other band members are all Americans (the album was also recorded in NYC), with Larry Grenadier on bass, Clarence Penn on drums and Mark Turner on sax.  Perfect for blustery days.

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