With A Sun That Never Sets, trumpeter and composer Ralph Alessi expands his celebrated quartet format into a quintet, unveiling eleven new compositions that showcase his intricate writing, adventurous spirit, and deep musical intuition. The album marks a significant evolution in Alessi’s creative journey, bringing a fresh dimension to his sound through the addition of trombonist Joseph Alessi, his brother and one of the world's foremost classical trombonists.
The result is a strikingly original ensemble featuring Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Joseph Alessi on trombone, Matt Mitchell on piano, John Hébert on double bass, and Ches Smith on drums and vibraphone. Together, the group navigates Alessi’s complex, syncopated compositions with remarkable ease, uncovering new possibilities within every melodic turn and rhythmic shift.
“In this band, everybody's just so strong, and very little, if anything, ever has to be said—which is what I prefer,” Alessi says. That near-telepathic communication is evident throughout the album, whether in the haunting, delicately phrased passages of “Nothing Is Dead,” “Sweet Spot,” and “Twichild,” or the dynamic energy of pieces such as “Relaxed Misery” and “Of Trees.”
While Alessi previously worked in a quintet setting alongside saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in his acclaimed ensemble This Against That, A Sun That Never Sets takes a different approach. Rather than adding another reed voice, Alessi introduces the rich tonal possibilities of the trombone, creating a distinctive dialogue between trumpet and trombone that shapes much of the album’s character.
For Ralph, writing for his brother presented a unique challenge. “It was uncharted waters through and through for me,” he explains. “Not just because I was doing it with my brother in this improvisatory context, but also because it’s a trombone. I've never really done any of my records with trombone. It was challenging and there was a lot of thought that went into preparing this music with him in mind. And at the end I have to say I’m very happy with how that played out.”
The brothers’ chemistry is immediately apparent on “Relaxed Misery,” which opens with a playful and spontaneous exchange before unfolding into sharply defined melodic lines and expansive improvisation. Elsewhere, Joseph’s contributions are used with restraint and precision. On “Ether,” winding horn lines drift through shifting harmonies, while a brief trombone passage on “Sweet Spot” provides the final touch that brings the composition to its emotional peak. On “Of Trees,” the brothers lock into tightly synchronized phrases, navigating intricate rhythmic terrain with exhilarating intensity.
Another defining presence throughout the album is percussionist Ches Smith, whose dual role on drums and vibraphone significantly broadens the ensemble’s sonic palette. Smith introduces “Nothing Is Dead” with resonant vibraphone tones before transitioning seamlessly to subtle percussion textures. His vibraphone work adds warmth and lyricism to pieces such as “Sweet Spot” and “Behind Clouds,” while his precise drumming powers rhythmically complex tracks including “Duck Face” and “Transitional Imagery.”
“Obviously Ches is a very unique musician, and he really expands on the possibilities for orchestration,” Alessi says. “I didn't even have to suggest the pieces where he plays vibes. He's just a natural, he just went there. He's bringing that energy to it, adding such an interesting dimension to the music’s color.”
Alessi cites two enduring sources of inspiration as central to his artistic thinking: Ornette Coleman and Igor Stravinsky. Though seemingly opposite poles of musical expression, their influence can be felt throughout A Sun That Never Sets, where contemplative lyricism and angular structures coexist in a constantly evolving musical landscape.
The album also highlights Alessi’s distinctive trumpet voice, balancing technical precision with emotional depth. His clear, expressive tone guides listeners through compositions that shift effortlessly between abstraction and beauty. Pianist Matt Mitchell complements that vision with elegant interpretations of the themes while maintaining a willingness to venture beyond harmonic boundaries. Supported by the fluid interplay of Hébert and Smith, the ensemble creates a musical environment that remains vibrant, unpredictable, and deeply engaging from beginning to end.
Recorded at Oktaven Studio in New York in February 2025 and later mixed in Munich, A Sun That Never Sets was produced by Ralph Alessi and Manfred Eicher. The album stands as both a continuation of Alessi’s acclaimed ECM legacy and a bold step forward, revealing new possibilities within his compositional language while reaffirming his place among the most inventive voices in contemporary jazz.
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