The 2001-2002 season was a good time for trumpet player Cuong Vu, especially in the Netherlands. His album Come Play With Me was highly praised and the VPRO program Vrije Geluiden devoted an entire broadcast to him. In the years that followed it seemed to have become quieter, but appearances can be deceiving. Vu released a few more albums that are only available through the internet. Moreover, he
… was absorbed in the relative anonymity of the Pat Metheny Group. Vu-Tet was released in mid-2007, again only available through ArtistShare.com. The title has been chosen appropriately, because the trumpet player, originally from Vietnam, starts his own Tet offensive. The solemnly calm Intro acts as calm before the storm, after which Vu strikes with his regular companions bassist Stomu Takeishi and drummer Ted Poor and additional guest saxophonist Chris Speed. In some bop-like themes, this company evokes memories of Steve Coleman's M-Base grooves. However, the music sounds much fuller and at the same time more spacious, in particular due to Takeishi's use of a sampler with which he frequently layers multiple layers and through Vu's use of delay and reverb, matching the spaciousness of Nils Petter Molvaer. Fascinating music. (HB)more