Aqua

AMG Review of Aqua

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

An abstract pianist with a sound and improvising style of his own, Moncef Genoud mostly performs complex yet swinging originals on his set. While most of the performances are by his trio, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker takes a raging solo on "Aqua," sounds smooth on the complex "Mix of Keys," and is gentle on a duet with Genoud for "Lovely Vij." Of the trio numbers, most memorable are the melancholy "Out of the Blue," the use of some Keith Jarrett-type repetition on "Moncef's Mood," and an interesting transformation of John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice." Dee Dee Bridgewater drops by for the final selection, "Lush Life," which is well sung if a bit out of place. Overall, this is an intriguing set of modern jazz that is well worth exploring.