Jack Trombey & Rouge Music - Interlace (1975)

Behind the pseudonym Jack Trombey was the distinguished Dutch composer, conductor, and multi-instrumentalist Jan Stoeckart. For the Rouge Music label, this release was the third long-player in their nascent catalog (RMS/LP 103) and helped establish the signature style of their new library.

The album Interlace (which can be translated as "Interlacing" or "Alternating") fully lives up to its name. The composer builds subtle musical bridges between strict classical tradition and relaxed, swinging jazz lounge. The pieces on the album are richly arranged: graceful piano passages and string parts intertwine with soft flute solos, acoustic guitar, and a light yet distinct rhythmic pattern (thanks to which the record subsequently became popular with hip-hop producers seeking interesting vintage breaks).

The album's material was traditionally intended to provide the soundtrack for pastoral scenes, morning television broadcasts, nature documentaries, or sophisticated society columns. Among the 14 tracks on the record, the opening panoramic composition "Flight North," the tender and melancholic "Morning Dew," and the sophisticated "Garden Party" stand out.

Like most Rouge Music releases from the golden era of the 1970s, the original vinyl was released in a limited edition "for professional use" and is today a rare collector's item.