The vibes are the lead instrument here given this is the formidable French jazzer Alexis Valet's record - he leads an all-star Stateside group. Everyone is well known here and the album recorded in the US is more than the sum of its illustrious parts. Tenor saxist Dayna Stephens - Gratitude proved a key record of Stephens' in recent years - pianist's pianist Aaron Parks (whose input was also significant on Gratitude), double bassist Joe Martin and drummer Kush Adadey - who is on the new Blue Note Ethan Iverson album Technically Acceptable - complete the quintet of players. Following the Sun was recorded in a studio in the New York borough of Queens in 2022.

Valet's earlier work includes the self titled Alexis Valet (Deluge, 2019) release that featured players such as superb guitarist Romain Pilon on it and the more recent Explorers from 2021 (also on Jazz & People) that had the incredible pianist Bojan Z on 5 of that album's tracks.

Following the Sun sports an ultra hip approach but does not try too hard. Originals of Valet's - who shakes and vacs to put the freshness back compositionally - played beautifully by everyone land in a melodic 21st century blissed out take on progressive hard bop.

So if you like Jalen Baker whose Be Still we chilled to last year these sounds are perfectly compatible and rub along wonderfully. It's a beautiful day you might think hearing this album. Because there's a real warm in the voicings particularly on 'June' where Stephens plays so persuasively. Valet's tunes make sense and there's an organic riff-groove alchemy on a tune such as 'Cypher' where Joe Martin comes into his own that ups the pulsar ante. We journey happily hearing this back once again to wrap our ears around Martin on Stacey-ite Art Hirahira's Balance Point put out a few years ago that made us prick up our ears just about all night long. Discovering a sense of perspective - Alexis Valet, photo: via Jazz & People