The veteran French saxophonist-composer Alban Darche's work in the field of performance art as well as music, is nothing if not diverse. Even so he has demonstrated a penchant for writing and arranging for big band by way of his early involvement in the renowned French Orchestra National de Jazz through to various commissions such as his orchestral piece ‘Le Tombeau de Poulenc’ in 2016. He also has an award-winning quartet project JASS with notable US large ensemble composer John Hollenbeck. The latter points to his bond with American as well as European jazz orchestral work with a lineup that includes Jon Irabagon and Loren Stillman as well as a host of French musicians.

The new recording is a big band incarnation of his personnel-rotating Le Gros Cube ensemble that formed in 2004. It's warm contemporary lyricism and richly textured arrangements have plenty of twists and turns and owe something to Gil Evans, Vince Mendoza and the aforementioned John Hollenbeck among others. Influences from chamber classical, postbop and rock through to post-hiphop beat culture are finely nuanced and integrated, steering well clear of any collage or fusion. Unlike some contemporary big band composition the leader-saxophonist has not forgotten to write some ear-catching melodies. On Le Gros Cube #2 Darche has achieved a high level in international contemporary large ensemble jazz.