Joe Sullivan Sextet Rumours from the Soul
(Nu-Jazz)
Reviewed by Jeffrey Stoub

True to the title of his latest disc, trumpeter Joe Sullivan has worked up a collection of excellent compositions that seem personal, intimate and mysterious, without veering from his bop sensibilities and becoming too programmatic. And while there's plenty of room for straight-ahead improvisation from the members of the sextet, Sullivan's intricately scored melodies set the tone throughout. This is a great follow-up to Sullivan's 1994 disc, A Song for Jersey.

Sky Blue Wall is a great example of Sullivan's ability to lay down a complex theme that is full of tight counterpoint, while still allowing enough air for improvised phrases. The tune manages to combine bursts of carefully orchestrated big band sound with free improvisation, while the horns blow outside their lines to dissolve the piece.

Sullivan's trumpet playing matches his compositions. It’s full of energy and melodic. He plays the melodies strong and develops their lines throughout his improvised solos. He really soars on La Danse des Maringouins, which in general has some of the finest playing on the disc. André Leroux on tenor sax and Jean Fréchette on baritone really show off their skills as they vigorously trade lines.

Several tunes highlight the low side of the sextet- Fréchette on bari sax and George Mitchell on string bass. On Ask Kandinsky and on Irish Flame, Mitchell really digs into his lines with a driving, stretching sound that keeps the other players moving. Meanwhile, Fréchette, especially on Unfamiliar Surroundings, takes advantage of his range to put some strong bottom on the melody. The only complaint would be that the recording makes him sound somewhat distant, relative to the other players.

The title (and last) track, while dramatically different in structure and even sound from the other pieces, seem to capture a sound hinted at in previous pieces. At the end of La Danse des Maringouins, there's a surprising final phrase that seems otherworldly, like a dream sequence. The final tune really captures that surprisingly elegant and soul-searching sound that can only represent rumours from the soul.

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