Dutch bassist Hein van de Geyn is best known as an improvising jazz musician, but this SACD features a dozen of his works for wind quintet and piano. All the pieces are rooted in the tradition of cool jazz. Most often, the music for the quintet alternates with improvisatory-sounding sections for bass and piano, but sometimes all the forces join together, and in some of the pieces the quintet plays a gentle background while the other instruments improvise. The music is largely genial and mellow and well suited for easy listening. Particularly in the notated wind sections, the sound is close to French popular music of the mid-century in its soulful melodies, regular phrasing, and melancholy mood. Some pieces, like Long Glide, are more unpredictable and a little edgier, and a several others are more upbeat. The playing, featuring Geyn on bass, pianist Bert van den Brink, and the quintet
I Solisti del Vento, is above reproach, except for some intonation issues in Green Book. This is not complex, cerebral music, and the simplicity and directness of the playing suit it perfectly. The sound of the live recording is clear, present, and resonant, with minimal distracting audience noise. The album should have strong appeal to fans of easy jazz and classical crossover.