ERIK TRUFFAZ

ERIK TRUFFAZ
SALOUA (2005)
256-320 KBPS

Erik Truffaz is an impressive French trumpeter at the cutting edge of introducing new styles and beats to a suave jazzy sound. Truffaz has an interesting sound on trumpet that subtly whines with a rich sadness on these tracks. Mounir Troudi adds some world music flavor to the album with his Middle Eastern singing on the tracks I mentioned above. I know nothing of Nya apart from seeing his picture inside the compact disc booklet and his one name pseudonym. The singing is sometimes beautiful, though occasionally distracting. The vocals left me wanting Truffaz to step center stage more often than he did on this effort. Truffazs' talents are apparent most on the tracks not focused on the vocal mission of the album. I felt most satisfied while listening to this album on tracks with the most relaxed feel, such as Whispering, Le Soleil d'Eline. You feel a little tributary work might be getting paid to Miles Davis by Truffaz on tracks like Tantrik, Spirale.
This album scores high in my book for originality and moments of beauty, but receives four stars for the vocal arrangements. I think Erik can do some amazing things and is willing to experiment down new avenues for exploration. This album I believe will be come to seen as a stepping stone in his evolving genius as his history unravels. This album is worth owning certainly.

1. Saloua
2. Big Wheel
3. Whispering
4. Yabous
5. Gedech
6. Dubophone
7. Ines
8. Tantrik
9. Ghost Drummer
10. Soleil d'Eline
11. Spirale
12. Et la Vie Continue