snobb
Cuong Vu, Vietnamiese-born US-based trumpeter, was a significant figure on the creative jazz scene during the first two decades of the new century. On "Leaps Of Faith", his only released live album as a leader to date, Cuong leads a two-basses/drums quartet on a series of standards and originals.
Musically Vu starts somewhere on Miles' early psychedelic fusion and moves it towards more contemporary aerial Nils-Petter Molvaer style nu jazz. Standards (incl., Body And Soul and My Funny Valentine among others) are seriously deconstructed, and are not easily recognizable. In general, the whole album's main attraction is quite relaxed, liquid and often lyrical sound of Vu's trumpet. The originals, especially the 15-minutes long, "I Shall Never Come Back", are more energetic, contain some shredding and are closer to rock-jazz.
In all, not very memorable album musically, it attracts listener by relaxed atmosphere and nice atmospheric soundscapes.