A first solo outing from Mazurek, the avant-jazzer best known for helming outré but acclaimed projects like Exploding Star Orchestra, Chicago Underground Duo and Black Cube SP. However, Milan, which resembles a series of preparatory drawings rather than a completed painting, does not – rather disappointingly – reach the heights of those outings.

The opening ‘Magic Yellow Bucket’ illustrates this perfectly, starting with minimalist drums, cymbals, and a relaxed, melodic piano groove complete; promising, but ultimately it’s rather fragmented, and feels like nothing more than a rough draft of something that might one day grow into a more compelling piece. ‘Sbaglito’ is a spooky soundscape, but nothing more – it’ll not stand up to repeated listenings; ‘Collimated and Trestled’ has plenty of intriguing elements (sampler, prepared piano, percussion, treated trumpet, flute) but they never quite come together as a cohesive whole; and elsewhere, pieces peter out when they’re just starting to develop. Only ‘Sun Dials Gestations’ really stands up, in large part thanks to Mazurek’s urgent trumpet.

As a fan of Mazurek’s past work, I can only hope that Milan is a temporary detour, rather than a completely new direction; although entertaining enough, it is ultimately far too bitty to warrant repeat visits.