| Jazz |
Summary: On Jagged Edges & Elegant Lines, composer Ayn Inserto and the WDR Big Band deliver a thrilling live performance that combines sophisticated orchestration, powerful melodies, and exceptional solo work from Sean Jones, confirming Inserto as one of the leading voices in contemporary large ensemble jazz.
Ayn Inserto and the WDR Big Band Reach New Heights on Jagged Edges & Elegant Lines
Sean Jones deserves special recognition for the role he plays throughout this recording. Long regarded as one of the most compelling trumpeters of his generation, Jones brings a commanding presence that elevates every appearance. His sound combines technical brilliance with emotional depth, allowing him to navigate Inserto’s demanding writing while never sacrificing spontaneity. The newly commissioned suite written specifically for him becomes one of the album’s central pillars. Rather than functioning merely as a featured soloist, Jones serves as a dramatic narrator, guiding listeners through the music’s shifting landscapes with authority, warmth, and imagination. His improvisations possess the rare quality of feeling both meticulously constructed and completely free, a balance that mirrors the very essence of Inserto’s compositional voice.
One of the most striking aspects of Jagged Edges & Elegant Lines is its cinematic scope. Inserto thinks orchestrally in the broadest sense of the term. Her arrangements unfold like carefully crafted scenes, filled with tension, release, contrast, and surprise. Entire sections seem to rise and expand before giving way to intimate moments of reflection. The listener is often carried through a succession of emotional environments that feel almost visual in their impact. There are passages where brass and reeds interact like characters in a drama, while rhythm section textures create a sense of movement that evokes film scoring at its most sophisticated. Yet unlike many contemporary works that borrow from cinematic language, Inserto never allows atmosphere to overshadow substance. Every gesture serves the narrative, every orchestral color advances the musical conversation.
For listeners seeking points of reference, Inserto occupies a fascinating place within the lineage of modern large ensemble composers. Like Maria Schneider, she possesses an extraordinary gift for creating emotionally resonant musical landscapes. Like Bob Brookmeyer, she embraces structural complexity without losing sight of melodic clarity. And, much like Darcy James Argue, she demonstrates a willingness to challenge conventional big band vocabulary while remaining deeply connected to the jazz tradition.
Yet these comparisons ultimately reveal as much about her individuality as they do about her influences. Inserto’s voice remains distinctly her own. Her music combines intellectual rigor with an unusual warmth, achieving a balance between complexity and accessibility that few contemporary composers manage so consistently.
What is perhaps most encouraging is what this album suggests about the current state of large ensemble jazz. For years, critics have periodically questioned the relevance of the big band format in a rapidly evolving musical landscape. Recordings such as Jagged Edges & Elegant Lines provide a persuasive answer.
Far from being a relic of the past, the modern jazz orchestra remains one of the most fertile environments for creative expression when placed in the hands of visionary composers and adventurous musicians. Ayn Inserto stands at the forefront of that movement. She belongs to a generation of artists who understand the history of the form deeply enough to honor it while possessing the imagination necessary to push it forward.
If the future of large ensemble jazz depends upon composers capable of combining innovation, emotional depth, and technical mastery, then this recording offers compelling evidence that the future is in exceptionally capable hands.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, June 24th, 2026
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WDR Big Band is the jazz big band of German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne, Germany.
Featuring: Sean Jones, Trumpet
WDR BIG BAND conducted by Ayn Inserto:
Saxophones: Johan Hörlén, reed 1; Pascal Bartoszak, reed 2; Ben Fitzpatrick, reed 3; Paul Heller, reed 4; Jens Neufang, reed5
Trumpets: Wim Both; Rob Bruynen; Andy Haderer; Ruud Breuls
Trombones: Ludwig Nuss; Raphael Klemm; Tim Hepburn; Mattis Cederberg
Bass, Piano, Drums: John Goldsby, bass; Billy Test, piano; Hans Dekker, drums
Track Listing:
Eshel Sketch
La Danza Infinita
Vinifera
Down A Rabbit Hole
Mr Jones and Company
BJ’s Tune
I The Artist
II the Educator
IV The Human Soul
II The Husband and Father
A Westdeutsche Rundfunk Cologne Production, 2024