MŸA

Given the slide trombone’s valveless construction – and notwithstanding its long history in jazz – it’s a wonder it hasn’t been used more in exploring microtonal possibilities. Robinson Khoury – a French trombonist of Lebanese descent – wants to put that right. He’s most successful on the pieces that lean heaviest on Middle Eastern scales. On opening track, ‘COSMOS’, the horn’s yearning cry arises out of an electronic drone with astonishing virtuosity. And, on the two tracks, ‘QĀNĀ’ and ‘ARAZU’, featuring guest singers Lynn Adib and Natcha Atlas respectively, it slides around the vocals with graceful precision. But other parts are less compelling. Though ostensibly built around a jazz trio with drummer Anisa Nehari and pianist Léo Jassef, Khoury’s modular synthesizer is a major presence throughout and, while his synth bass is undeniably fruity, some of the glossy textures and slick arpeggios tend towards toothless dance music somewhat lacking in substance. Still, when the trombone sings, it really soars.