by Romain Guillou
Cuong Vu and his associates are creating a world of their own, presenting very long pieces based on the threesome of drums, bass, and trumpet. And if their jazz is of the experimental kind, it remains -- but for the rare noisy digressions -- very melodic. One will not find a classic type of jazz drumming here, since the drums are used as an instrument capable of making tunes. Stomu Takeishi plays the bass in a post-rockish style. Vu does not blow his trumpet like a crazy jazzman; well, he occasionally does, and at those times, it feels good. On the contrary, Vu takes his time for each note, letting it sound in a way that brings out all the trumpet's sonorousness. Sometimes, listeners may even wonder whether it is a trumpet or not, particularly when it gives the impression of a guitar solo. Most of the compositions follow the pattern of being calm at the beginning, creating tension, reaching a climax, and returning to normal. The pieces range from eight to 18 minutes in length and -- despite the tensions in them -- after hearing Pure, one thinks of the album's cooler aspects.