Vibraphone-led groups are nowhere near as common as those fronted by piano or saxophone, but US-based French vibraphonist Simon Moullier makes a convincing case for them. His 2021 trio set Countdown was impressive and the quartet he presents on Isla maintains the high standard.

The presence of the keyboard brings added harmonic and melodic interest to the table, and, crucially, doesn't impinge on the chemistry of the previous line-up, of which drummer Jongkuk Kim is a key component: there is a fine lightness of touch as well as hardness of punch in his playing. It gives Moullier the kind of supple axis needed for material that covers a wide range of mood and texture, underlining the quite dramatically different energies which the vibraphone is capable of creating, from whispery jangle to bell ringer brightness. Echoes of anybody from Gary Burton and Steve Nelson to Dave Pike and Jay Hoggard ring out, but Moullier – who's shown considerable skill in covering Great American Songbook classics as well as post-bop anthems by Coltrane on previous releases – asserts himself well as an original composer this time round. He excels on yearning, wistful themes such as ‘Empress Of The Sea’ on which his phrases melt beautifully into the cushion of chords around him. The result is music of a simmering rather than boiling intensity that should garner greater attention for a gifted player.