By Robert Ham | Published August 2021
If Simon Moullier’s 2020 debut Spirit Song was an attempt to bring the vibraphone back to prominence, the young French native’s latest album makes an even stronger case. Countdown is an effervescent throwback with Moullier paring back to a simple vibes/bass/drums trio and tackling jazz classics and standards — a selection that evokes the late-’50s/early-’60s period when the masters of bebop were sharing space on record shelves with exotica and lounge fare.
The vintage air of the album is balanced nicely with decidedly modern elements. Drummer Jongkuk Kim plays with contemporary flair, all rapid-fire fills and cymbal work. He keeps pace with Mouiller and bassist Luca Alemanno on a speedy take of Tadd Dameron’s “Hot House” and a blistering rendition of the John Coltrane’s “Countdown.” Moullier keeps Countdown firmly connected to jazz’s roots. He eases into the melody of “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” and dashes through “Turn Out The Stars” as effortlessly as Bill Evans. With few other players to work around and with, Moullier remains fixed in the spotlight throughout and, from the sounds of this spritely album, he clearly found that being the center of attention is fuel for his creative engine.
Countdown: Countdown; Work; I Concentrate On You; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Nature Boy; Turn Out The Stars; The Song Is You; Beijo Partido; Hot House; Ask Me Now. (41:26)
Personnel: Simon Moullier, vibraphone; Luca Alemanno, bass; Jongkuk Kim, drums.
Ordering Info: freshsoundrecords.com
