Feya Faku - Impilo (2021)

Faku’s compositions on Impilo gives Virelles the space to stretch in both those directions. The title track sees him exploring the idioms of Eastern Cape jazz under first Faku’s voice and then his horn; The Garden offers edge-of-the cliff impro: rapid cascades of notes that remind us the piano started its African life as percussion – and it’s a fresh kind of composition from Faku.

Faku’s own trumpet sound is back with a vengeance: crisp, rich and soulful. The great advantage of a trio recording is we get to hear a lot more of him. Faku is always a generous leader, and that means in larger groups he’s generous with stage time to all his co-players; he never hogs the solos. Here, with the spotlight shared by only three, that generosity ensures the format breathes – one of Faku’s great strengths as a soloist is his understanding of how important to the music space is. But a third of the time it breathes through his horn, and for those of us who usually sigh regretfully when his solos end, that’s a bonus. In the quiet of the trio, you get a chance to appreciate just what a gorgeous brass tone the man can produce.

Long years of working with Gisler have built empathy; Virelles’ participation adds something equally empathetic that South Africans haven’t heard before, and in this fresh frame it’s a joy to hear lots, and lots, of trumpet. “Impilo,” Faku reflects in his press release, “it’s about celebrating life and giving thanks to my people, my ancestors, for giving me my life back. To be alive and play this music. I guess that’s what I’m here for.”

Never doubt it. And it’s a triumphant return.